MoS V K Singh in Saudi Arabia to help jobless Indians

New Delhi, Aug 18 (PTI) Minister of State for ExternalAffairs V K Singh has again gone to Saudi Arabia to helpthousands of laid-off Indian workers either to return to Indiaor seek alternative employment in the Gulf nation which isfaced with severe economic slowdown that has forced companiesto retrench work force. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup saidpurpose of Singh’s visit was to resolve issues being faced byIndian workers wanting to come back home or find alternativeemployment in Saudi Arabia. Indians employed with Saudi Oger, Saudi-bin Laden andSaad Group are facing major difficulties and they have noother option but to return to India. "No other option is available to Indian workers belongingto these three companies. MoS VK Singh is in Saudi Arabiaright now as there are some issues which need to be addressedso that the retrenched workers either seek alternativeemployment or return to India," said Swarup. Singh had rushed to Saudi Arabia earlier this month afterlarge number of Indian workers sought Indian government’sintervention in taking up their difficulties with the Saudiauthorities. The Saudi government, then, had agreed to swiftly resolveplight of the laid-off Indian workers including providing themfree passage to return to India and clearing their unpaiddues. Swarup said Singh will try to reach out to Saudiauthorities to seek cooperation in helping the distressedIndians. Thousands of Indian workers have lost their jobs due toslowdown in Saudi economy, triggered by low oil prices and cutin spending by the government. The Indian government had requested the Saudi authoritiesto give the unemployed Indian workers exit visas without NoC(No-Objection Certificate) from employers and also urged it toclear the dues of workers who have not been paid for months,whenever they settle the accounts with the companiesconcerned. As per rules, no foreign employee can leave the countrywithout NoC by the employers. The Saudi government also agreed to allow transfer ofIndian employees, who have lost their jobs, to any othercompany within Saudi Arabia. As per rules, foreign employees cannot change jobs withpermission of the company where they were employed. PTI MPBZMN