Nepali migrant workers who have been left in the lurch following massive layoffs in Saudi Arabia would be allowed to return home or seek new jobs based on their personal preference. Nepal’s embassy in Riyadh has said that Saudi authorities have agreed to facilitate both in finding new sponsors to workers willing to stay in thecountry and arrange travel permit for those planning to return home. Earlier this month, the Nepali embassy had requested the Saudi Ministry of Labour to extend necessary assistance to stranded Nepali migrants. Under the Kafala sponsorship system, it is mandatory for migrant workers to find new sponsors to changejobs. Those willing to leave the country
need a permissionof their sponsor to get exist visa. Nepal’s embassy has received wage-related grievances from around 400 Nepali workers so far, according to the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The majority of workers have expressed their wish to change their sponsor. According to the embassy, the Saudi authorities have initiated the process to provide necessary help to 41 Nepali migrants who had been employed by the Saudi Oger Company. The embassy has urged the concerned Nepali migrants to file complaints at the mission clearly specifying the nature of assistance they seek.In a statement, the embassy said it would help facilitate workers who have lost jobs or who have abandoned their original employers to return home. Govinda Mani Bhurtel, spokesperson for the Ministry of Labour and Employment, said that the embassy is receiving the growing number of complaints from undocumented workers.The embassy has requested the Saudi authorities to exempt fine that the undocumented workers are required to pay to leave the country, according to him.“The embassy is particularly finding it challenging to assist the undocumented workers as they cannot return home without paying penalty,” said Bhurtel, adding that the mission is coordinating with the Non Resident Nepali Association to help the needy workers.Hundreds of companiesin Saudi Arabia have closed down in recent months due to slowed growth as the kingdom suffers the effect of lower oil prices
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