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600 workers were reportedly stranded in labour camps after their companies failed to implement the Nitaqat, a requirement that all Saudi companies reserve at least 10% employment for Saudi nationals. Mostly employed in construction, many of the workers had been working in Saudi Arabia for between 5 and 30 years. By October 2019, the workers had reportedly not been paid for 10 months, according to the chairman of a community welfare organisation. The workers had also gone without food, medicine, power and water, and some faced travel bans as their visas had expired.
One company, Al Dossary was named, but multiple companies were involved.
Companies
Al Dossary
- Employer
Affected
Total individuals affected:
600
Migrant & immigrant workers: (
600
- India
, Construction
, Gender not reported
)
Issues
Injuries
,
Personal Health
,
Wage Theft
,
Right to Food
,
Failing to renew visas
,
Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions
Response
Response sought: No
Action taken: The employees had submitted a written complaint to the Saudi Labour Court who ruled 'in favour of them', and were being supported by the Indian embassy. The company had allegedly done nothing to comply, however, and their 'new management policy' was to close down without paying compensation.
600 employees... have been languishing in labour camps in Dammam without food, medicine, or wages. These workers, many of them working in Saudi Arabia for 5 to 30 years, were left in dire straits...
[One employer] Al Dossary was a well-established company for roads and other civil works.
[Abdul Khader, chairman of the Assembly committee for Pravasi Welfare said] “They have been denied food and medicine. They are not getting wages for more than 10 months...
“Most of them face travel ban as their travel visa and other documents have already expired...
“Their labour camps have been without power or water supply for months."
[We attempted to invite Al Dossary to respond to this allegation but were unable to verify the company involved.]