Saudi agrees to help stranded Indian workers after VK Singh’s visit

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday agreed to swiftly resolve the plight of thousands of laid-off Indian workers, including providing them free passage to return to India and clearing their unpaid dues, after Union minister VK Singh apprised the Saudi government about the humanitarian crisis.

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday agreed to swiftly resolve the plight of thousands of laid-off Indian workers, including providing them free passage to return to India and clearing their unpaid dues, after Union minister VK Singh apprised the Saudi government about the humanitarian crisis.

Saudi Arabia agreed to resolve the plight of thousands of laid-off Indian workers after VK Singh apprised the Saudi government about the crisis. (Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo)

Singh arrived here on Wednesday to assess the situation and finalise modalities to bring back stranded Indian workers who do not even have money to buy food.

The minister of state for external affairs held extensive talks with Saudi labour minister Mufrej Al Haqbani here who promised urgent action to resolve the difficulties being faced by around 7,000 Indians, most of whom are living in camps after losing their jobs due to an economic slowdown in the oil-rich Gulf country. The Saudi government also agreed to allow transfer of Indian employees, who have lost their jobs, to any other company within Saudi Arabia.