13 Indian workers stranded in Saudi Arabia to return soon

, Aug 12: Thirteen

workers stranded in Saudi Arabia after being duped by an Indian job agent are set to leave the country with their Saudi agent agreeing to pay for their return journey.

The workers were contracted to work as waiters in a coffee shop in Riyadh but were directed to do odd jobs in all parts of the country. Promised a monthly salary of 800 Saudi Riyals besides food and accommodation, the workers have not been paid since last six months, forcing them to take a loan of 7,000 riyals to cover their travel and visa fees back home, the Arab News reported.

A spokesman from the Islamic Cultural Foundation (ICF), a social service organisation, which has been assisting the stranded group said the local job agent in South India cheated the workers of their money and led to their sufferings. He said the Saudi recruiting agent had paid the airfare and visa fees for the arrival of the workers in the country.

The Saudi agent had agreed to pay the salary dues of the workers and repatriate them on the condition that the Indian agent provided them with the return tickets to their home country.

PTI