New Saudi labour law only for illegal immigrants
15 April 2013 6:32 AM IST
Saudi Arabia's new labour policy will affect only illegal immigrants and not genuine workers employed in the Kingdom, India's External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has said.
‘Genuine workers don't need to worry. It will impact only those who don't have proper work permit,’ Khurshid said in the course of a brief chat in Berlin where this correspondent who had travelled with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week.
Khurshid said Indian workers play an important role in Saudi Arabia's economy and the Kingdom's authorities recognise this.
‘Saudi Arabia needs Indian labour. Removal of illegal immigrants will open the doors for genuine workers,’ the minister said.
Saudi Arabia recently introduced a new policy called Nitaqat (classification) that seeks to remove illegal immigrants and boost employment for locals by reserving 10 pc of jobs. Over 300,000 firms reportedly do not employ any locals and the Nitaqat policy seeks to deal firmly with this.
Under the new law introduced earlier this year, foreigners are allowed to only work for their legal sponsors and their spouses won't be allowed to take up jobs. The expatriates cannot perform any job other than the one mentioned. These provisions have sparked fears of mass deportation.
‘Genuine workers don't need to worry. It will impact only those who don't have proper work permit,’ Khurshid said in the course of a brief chat in Berlin where this correspondent who had travelled with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week.
Khurshid said Indian workers play an important role in Saudi Arabia's economy and the Kingdom's authorities recognise this.
‘Saudi Arabia needs Indian labour. Removal of illegal immigrants will open the doors for genuine workers,’ the minister said.
Saudi Arabia recently introduced a new policy called Nitaqat (classification) that seeks to remove illegal immigrants and boost employment for locals by reserving 10 pc of jobs. Over 300,000 firms reportedly do not employ any locals and the Nitaqat policy seeks to deal firmly with this.
Under the new law introduced earlier this year, foreigners are allowed to only work for their legal sponsors and their spouses won't be allowed to take up jobs. The expatriates cannot perform any job other than the one mentioned. These provisions have sparked fears of mass deportation.
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