Non-payment of salaries, end of service benefits: Pakistani employees of two Saudi companies being facilitated: FO

Foreign Office said Tuesday that it is making all out efforts to help Pakistani employees of two companies in Saudi Arabia, currently facing problems in getting their salaries and end of service benefits.

According to Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria, Pakistani workers from two companies, namely M/s Saad Trading and Contracting Company, Al-Khobar (520 workers) and Saudi Oger Limited (8000 workers) are currently facing problems in getting their salaries and end of service benefits.

In addition, he said that the resident permits of many of the employees have not been renewed by the company. The companies have not refused the claims of their employees but they have not been able to pay their dues for several months. In the given circumstances, most of the workers want to leave these companies but only after settling their dues, he added.

He said that there are around 520 workers from M/s. Saad trading and Contracting Company living in three camps namely i) Dessert camp, ii) Al-Azizia camp, and iii) Abqiaq Camp, all located in the eastern region.

Estimated number of affected Pakistanis in the Saudi Oger company is up to 8,000, he said, adding around 20 percent are living on their own while majority of them are living in various camps set up by the company in Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Taif and Makkah regions.

He said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has approved an amount of SAR 100,000/- (equivalent to Pak Rs 2,785,000/-) from PCW&E Fund for providing relief to the workers by the Embassy.

The Ministry has instructed the Embassy in Riyadh to keep pursuing the authorities concerned to ensure food supply and medical facilities to the workers, settle the salaries and outstanding dues of the employees as soon as possible, facilitate the workers to travel to their homeland if they opt to do so and facilitate the transfer of work permit of those workers who decide to leave the company.

He said that Pakistan Ambassador in Riyadh is vigorously perusing the matter with Deputy Foreign Minister, Minister of Justice and Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Governor of Eastern Province as well as the management of the companies concerned.

He said embassy teams have visited all the camps in Dammam and provided food to the workers. The camps in Riyadh and Jeddah regions have been visited by the Community Welfare Attaches, he said, adding that mission's representatives have visited the labour court in Dammam several times and have facilitated Pakistani work force in compiling claims for their dues and salaries.

He said that Saudi Oger Ltd. management in Al-Khobar has confirmed that the company is providing food and other facilities in all its camps.

Zakaria said that the Saudi King has issued a decree for urgent payment of dues to workers by Saudi Oger Company and resolve the situation. He said that the company will also facilitate those workers who wish to leave. The Company would provide air tickets and renew their resident permits.

Those who want to transfer their iqamas will also be facilitated, he said, adding the officials of both the companies assured us that the companies are trying their best to resolve the problem.