Saudi Oger to Give Pakistani Workers Their Passports

Adnan Shabrawi
Okaz/Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The Ministry of Labor and Social Development has obtained a solemn pledge from Saudi Oger company to give its Pakistani workers their passports to enable them to transfer their iqamas to other sponsors or to depart for home.

This was announced by Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al-Olayan, director of the ministry’s branch in Makkah, who said the company will also thoroughly calculate their financial arrears.

He said the ministry has established a special Internet link under the name Kawadir (cadres) to register all the Pakistani workers in the company and to jot down their wishes to be realized as quickly as possible.

Olayan made the statements after a recent meeting in Jeddah with the visiting Pakistani Minister of Overseas Workers and Human Resources Pir Sayed Sadaruddin Shah Rashidi.

The meeting, held at the Pakistani Consulate, was also attended by the Pakistani ambassador to the Kingdom, the Consul General and other senior officials in addition to a representative of Saudi Oger company and officials from the Labor and Social Development Ministry.

The meeting discussed delayed salaries of the Pakistani workers and their arrears with the company that is still pending settlement.

Olayan said the Pakistani workers were given the option either to remain in the Kingdom to work for other sponsors or leave for home on final exit visas.

He said the ministry will bear all the costs of the iqama transfer fees, the charges of the final exit visa and the air tickets and will deduct these costs from the company at the time of the final settlement.

The iqama transfer will be done without the consent of Saudi Oger, their original sponsor,” he explained. He, however, said the main problem facing the option of the workers joining new employers is the exaggerated salaries they ask for.

“The workers are used to receiving high pay from Saudi Oger. They are not willing to accept less from any new employer,” he said.

Olayan advised the workers to empower the embassy to follow up their cases and to appoint a lawyer to demand their financial rights.

The Saudi Oger representative told the meeting that the company would give the workers their passports and letters ascertaining their financial rights.

(Source: SaudiGazette.com.sa)