Jobless Indian in Saudi Arabia to start returning: MEA

Indian workers of Saudia Arabia's Saad group will start coming back to India beginning on Thursday night, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj informed.

She said Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs V K Singh is already in that country to oversee returnof the Indian workers, estimated to be in a few thousands. "Indian workers in Saad group will start returning hometoday. My colleague @Gen_VKSingh is in Saudi Arabia toaccomplish this task. Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia is doingoutstanding work there. @IndianEmbRiyadh," she tweeted.

Thousands of Indian workers in Saudi Arabia had lost their jobs and some of them even struggled to buy food following which the government intervened. Some of these Indians have already returned to the country. MoS Singh had made a number of visits to that country inlast few months to help the jobless Indians and ensure return of those who wanted to come back.

Thousands of Indian workers have lost their jobs due to slowdown in Saudi economy, triggered by low oil prices and cut in spending by the government. The Indian government had earlier requested the Saudi authorities to give the unemployed Indian workers exit visas without NoC (No-Objection Certificate) from employers and alsourged it to clear the dues of workers who have not been paidfor months, whenever they settle the accounts with thecompanies concerned. As per rules, no foreign employee can leave the countrywithout NoC by the employers