Daily Times

Thousands of out-of-job Pakistanis are stranded destitute in Saudi Arabia after the plunge in oil prices sparked construction layoffs. Thousands of workers have been laid off, mainly by construction companies, over the past year or so following the dip in oil prices to a historic low. It is only recently that when some media outlets highlighted the issue that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took notice of the plight of the thousands of out-of-job workers stranded in camps across the Kingdom. The foreign office on Tuesday said that government was making all efforts to help laid-off Pakistani employees, and a facilitation centre has been set up for the distressed in Riyadh.

According to an official statement from the foreign office, Pakistani workers of two companies — M/s Saad Trading and Contracting Company in Al-Khobar and Saudi Oger Limited — were currently facing problems in getting their salaries and end-of-service benefits. Moreover, the companies had not renewed the residence permits of many of employees, the statement added. According to the foreign office, 520 workers from M/s Saad Trading and Contracting Company were living in three camps in the eastern region, while the 8,000 workers of Saudi Oger Limited were either living on their own or in various camps set up by the company in Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Taif and Makkah regions.

Although the current layoffs and withholding of salaries could be attributed to the financial crunch that the country is witnessing, the harsh attitude of companies in Saudi Arabia in particular and in Gulf region in general towards low-wage earning foreign employees is not hidden from anyone. Workers from developing countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka work in the Gulf States on contracts with stringent conditions, making lives extremely hard for them with almost no benefits. These expats are an important source of foreign exchange for Pakistan, and government of Pakistan should show concern about Pakistani nationals living abroad who send remittances worth millions of dollars every year. Not only is it disheartening to see these Pakistanis living in abysmal conditions, but also the attitude of Pakistani government and its embassies leaves much a big question mark on their performance regarding Pakistani nationals working overseas. A facilitation centre was opened in Riyadh only after the issue was highlighted in media. There is a need for such facilitation centres in all the consulates across the Kingdom to address the problems of Pakistani nationals. Moreover, such centres should be available throughout the year to avoid or at least address unexpected or routine problems faced by Pakistanis nationals working in low-paying contractual positions.

Pakistani government should use its friendly ties with Saudi Arabian government to address the issues faced by Pakistani nationals in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, government should ask Saudi Arabia to relax some stringent conditions stipulated in contracts of Pakistani workers working for Saudi companies.

Pakistan’s embassy and consulates in Saudi Arabia should make all-out efforts to provide the stranded people with food, shelter and a provision to return home if they do not have money to buy a ticket. Moreover, efforts should be made at the government level for the release of salaries and end-of-service benefits so that the employees could return to Pakistan or switch their jobs.*