Speedy solution to labour dispute involving Indians assured

DUBAI, June 9 (UNI): Saudi Arabia's eastern province Governor Prince Muhammad Ibn Fahd has promised the Indian Embassy speedy solution to a labour dispute with a company that has not paid its workers for over eight months forcing them to beg in the streets.

Ambassador Kamaluddin Ahmad told Arab news that he took up the issue of 130 Indian workers of comet contracting with the governor and urged him to waive their Iqama (resident permit) transfer fee of SR1,800 so they could go home.

The employees are virtual prisoners of their sponsor as they have neither the passport nor residence permit, Ahmad said.

The Embassy has issued emergency certificates to the workers whose passports have been taken away by the company manager who is absconding.

The workers, who had paid Rs 80,000 to Rs 100,000 to Indian recruiting agents, went to Saudi Arabia on the assurance that the company was involved in contract work with the giant petroleum company, Saudi Aramco.

A Saudi Labour Court had directed the sponsor to pay the workers SR2,000 each and an air ticket to India.

However, the workers say the court order was never implemented.