Just when Nitaqat, the programme of Saudisation of the job scene in Saudi Arabia, is spreading panic through the community of migrant workers in the desert kingdom, reports say that a new thinking among Saudi companies in the peculiar situation could bring relief and joy to Indians facing arrest and deportation for not having proper papers or sponsors.
As per reports from Riyadh and other Saudi cities, several well-reputed and large companies are now expressing willingness to hire Indian workers trapped there without valid papers. Prominent among these firms is Almarai, world’s largest integrated dairy food company, which is said to have approached the Indian Embassy in Riyadh expressing readiness to hire 1,500 Indians.
Associations working for the welfare of Keralites in the Gulf say that the positive move from the side of Saudi firms would be a big relief for those who are facing deportation in the context of Nitaqat, which necessitated reservation of 10 per cent or more of the total jobs in all companies for Saudi nationals.
“A new confidence seems to be dawning among our people, especially Keralites,” said Ashraf Ahmed of Malappuram who has been working in Riyadh for over two decades. “The problem for most of the people facing Nitaqat trouble is lack of proper papers and sponsors. With several companies coming forward to hire them, getting valid papers seems to be a possibility,” he said.
Companies like Almarai are offering the opportunity to Indians whose residence in Saudi Arabia had been termed illegal in the context of Nitaqat to make their stay in Saudi Arabia safe and legal. Almarai is reportedly looking for Indians to appoint mainly in managerial, technical and supervisory positions. Sources said it would also need a large number of ordinary workers.
About 1,75,000 Keralites were facing the prospect of having to leave Saudi Arabia due to lack of proper papers in the context of Nitaqat after the deadline set for companies to comply with the nationalisation scheme of reserving 10 per cent or more jobs for Saudis ended on March 27. Riyadh had begun preparations for the programme two years back.
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud had at the start of April announced a three-month suspension of police searches for illegal residents following pressures from major companies facing labour crunch in the new situation. Indians without proper papers are now being advised to use this relaxation to get their residence regularised.
Reports from Riyadh said the decision of Saudi labour and External Affairs departments to simplify and expedite the legal procedures concerning changes in sponsorship, profession, etc of Indians has led to increased interest among the companies to hire them. Keralites working in Riyadh said that migrants from several other countries were not getting this advantage.
Despite the fact that the extension given by the king for regularising papers or to leave the country and the increased interest among the companies to hire Indians facing Nitaqat trouble, response to the new opportunity is not up to the expected levels, according to people associated with Indian organisations in Saudi Arabia.