Govt To Provide Relief To 150 Stranded Workers Of Al Khodri Company

ISLAMABAD, Nov 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 09th Nov, 2016 ) : Chairman Board of Governors (BoG), Barrister Amjad Malik Wednesday said the government would take all possible measures to provide relief to the 150 stranded Overseas Pakistanis of a defaulted Al Khodri Company, Damam in Saudi Arabia.

The workers have been facing the issues related to issuance of pending salaries, provision of food and health facilities and renewal of work and residence permit (Iqamas). These 150 stranded Overseas Pakistanis were working on 300-bed hospital project of Al Khodri Company in Qatif near Damam and lost their jobs due to default of company.

These workers, suffering from the last many months, staged a protest last day demanding early resolution of their problems. Barrister Amjad Malik said," We are monitoring each matter on case to case basis and carrying out efforts to resolve issues of overseas workers who are a great asset for the country".

He said "Pakistan sends thousands of workers to Saudi Arabia every year and we are mindful of all the developments taking place in the region". "We are recommending changes to secure overseas workers, ensure their job protection, post job re-employment and provision of necessary protection via insurance medical and financial", he added.

He said all workers' issues are being dealt through a team effort in collaboration with Pakistani missions in the respective countries, Federal Ombudsman and Overseas Pakistanis ministry. The Prime Minister office has also taken cognizance of these issues and earlier directed to set up a facilitation desk at Pakistan High Commission in Saudi Arabia to facilitate overseas workers stucked in Damam, he said.

The Prime Minister has earlier announced Rs. 50,000 for each family of stranded workers of two defaulted companies from Bait-Ul- Mal under which around 6000 families have been accommodated so far.

The OPF board has recommended some serious changes the way we deal with overseas workers issue in the preceding board consultations, Barrister Amjad Malik said. The board has recommended maintaining of computerised data at the Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment with assistance of NADRA and appointment of legally qualified counsellors having knowledge of gulf criminal justice systems and command of Arabic language to assist in litigation.

The recommendations were also given for securing employment rights and fast track entry exit from the country in case of any calamity and issue of conflict and financial set back. The board and advisory council of OPF is involving more members from Gulf and KSA region to know first hand problems of that community and recommending to explore future markets such as Malaysia and other healthy and ripe destinations for overseas workers, he informed.

When contacted, Community Welfare Attache in Riyadh, Mahmood Latif said efforts are underway to provide relief to the stranded workers. He said Pakistani Embassy there has disbursed Saudi Riyal 150 per worker of Khodri company as food allowance few days back.

The Pakistani Ambassador will also meet Deputy Minister, Labour and take up the matter regarding pending salaries and Iqamas and their final exit.