NEW DELHI : Indian workers, who are in distress and facing starvation after being laid off by their employers in Saudi Arabia, will face no food shortage at any point, the government assured the Lok Sabha today.
Replying to members’ concern during Zero Hour over the issue of more than 10,000 workers facing financial hardships after losing their jobs overseas, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, ”No single Indian worker in overseas will starve due to financial crisis. I want to assure the House.
“The Government is taking this issue very seriously.” Ms Swaraj said she has asked the Indian embassy in Riyadh and called Consulate General in Jeddah to distribute free ration to the Indians workers who are in crisis after losing their jobs.
”All of the workers have been provided with rations for next 3-5 days,” she added.
She said a large number of Indians have lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The employers have not paid wages and closed down their factories. These companies should have given their workers NOC for approval of the exit visa.
”But since these companies have left, we have asked Indian embassy to speed up the process of exit visa for these workers who want to come back,” she added.
Ms Swaraj said her deputy Gen V K Singh will travel to Saudi Arabia next week to help the Indians in the country. The government was taking all steps to ensure that those workers who have not been paid for last several months, get their dues. (AGENCIES)
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