A group of 22 Indian engineers who arrived on Saudi work visas have been in a Catch-22 situation since their company refused to provide them employment. The workers, who arrived here some 10 months ago, are living in pathetic condition and are dependent on aid provided by community members. Deprived of Iqamas (residence permits) they are afraid to move around and are confined in the accommodation offered by their friends and distant relatives living in Riyadh. As per Saudi Labor Law, the sponsor who recruits foreign manpower is responsible for providing Iqamas, accommodation, transport and free health care. Based on the employment contract, workers are also entitled to annual paid vacation. “I don't know what to do now as my company refuses to accept me as its employee,” said Muhammad Afroze Khan, a disgruntled telecom engineer, who holds a master's degree from a British university. The destitute engineers said that it is difficult to pay for lunch and dinner every day and that they skip breakfast to save money for other daily expenses. “Our hopes for a bright future have been dashed after the company refused to offer us employment,” said the young engineer. Muhammad Khawja Saleemullah, an electrical engineer, said getting through the day is turning out to be a difficult task for him. “We came to Saudi Arabia with great hopes but now we only want to go back home. It is a question of survival for us. It is already 10 months since we arrived in Riyadh. Without employment, how long can we stay as guests with our friends?” he asked. The engineers paid varying amounts of money, from Indian Rs200,000 to Rs220,000 (equivalent to around SR20,000), for endorsement of their visas to a recruitment company in India. They said they signed employment contracts in India for a basic monthly salary of SR6,000 and other perks. He said they did not suspect any wrong even when the Indian recruiting agency that hired the workers on behalf of a Saudi telecom company advised them to meet one of their agents for procedures such as Iqama, accommodation and other formalities. V.K. Sharma, Labor Attache, Community and Welfare Wing at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, said the mission has intervened to resolve the engineers' problem. He said the company is refusing to take any responsibility for the arrival of these Indian workers, although they arrived on its visa. “According to the company's management the visas were stolen sometime ago and reported to the police for investigation,” said Sharma. The Indian Embassy official said the Labor Court has scheduled a hearing on the engineers' case Sunday. He said upon the embassy's complaint, the Indian government has canceled the license of the concerned travel agency in India. “We are trying our best to resolve their problem by taking up the matter with higher Saudi authorities,” he said. Latheef Thetchy, a member of the Kerala Relief Wing (KRW), a Riyadh-based social organization that reaches out to destitute Indian workers, urged other Indian associations to come forward to help these engineers. The engineers, aged between 25 and 30, have come to Saudi Arabia for the first time and have very little knowledge about the Saudi labor market, he said. He said he has already lodged a complaint with the Riyadh Governorate Office and has also sought help from the Saudi Human Rights Commission which could expedite the Indian engineers departure from Saudi Arabia.
