Bangladeshis among 100 Asians on verge of starvation in Riyadh
FE Report | Thursday, 7 August 2008
More than 100 Asian workers of a catering and maintenance company have been left stranded in Riyadh for several months while they await repatriation to their home countries, Arab News reported Wednesday.
The workers, who are mainly from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the Philippines, said they have not been paid their salaries for several months by their employer, Al-Omrania & Al-Wagaiya Catering and Maintenance Company. Some also allege they have been held hostage against their will.
'The workers, who are now on the verge of starvation, have been living in cramped accommodation without electricity and water for several days,' said Kunju Mohammed, one of the workers.
Some of the workers said their company has been withholding their passports and Iqamas. They called on their respective embassies to help them.
The workers have been employed at the company for five to 15 years, and they include skilled and unskilled workers.
R Muraleedharan, convener of the Federation of Kerala Associations in Saudi Arabia, said, 'Power and water supplies have not been restored to the labour camp, which is in the far-flung Azizia district of Riyadh. This is because the company has not paid the bills.'
Muraleedharan added, 'Some of them approached the Labour Court and obtained favourable orders. But the company is not even complying with the court's instructions.'
The workers, who are mainly from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the Philippines, said they have not been paid their salaries for several months by their employer, Al-Omrania & Al-Wagaiya Catering and Maintenance Company. Some also allege they have been held hostage against their will.
'The workers, who are now on the verge of starvation, have been living in cramped accommodation without electricity and water for several days,' said Kunju Mohammed, one of the workers.
Some of the workers said their company has been withholding their passports and Iqamas. They called on their respective embassies to help them.
The workers have been employed at the company for five to 15 years, and they include skilled and unskilled workers.
R Muraleedharan, convener of the Federation of Kerala Associations in Saudi Arabia, said, 'Power and water supplies have not been restored to the labour camp, which is in the far-flung Azizia district of Riyadh. This is because the company has not paid the bills.'
Muraleedharan added, 'Some of them approached the Labour Court and obtained favourable orders. But the company is not even complying with the court's instructions.'