40% of illegal Indians in Saudi Arabia were from Uttar Pradesh

By TCN News,

New Delhi: Saudi Arabia’s new labor policy has forced 1.4 lakh to leave the Kingdom and come back to India. Also over 60,000 Indians were found to be there illegally. Of the Indian staying in Saudia illegally over 40% were from Uttar Pradesh.

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As per the statement submitted on Wednesday by Minister of State Overseas Indian Affairs General (Retd.) V. K. Singh in Lok Sabha of the state wise issuance of Emergency Certificates (ECs) by the Indian Embassies to the Indian worker after the implementation of ‘Nitaqat’ – A New Labour Policy in Saudi Arabia last year that 40% of the overall Indians found to be staying illegally were from Uttar Pradesh. The ECs were issued by the Embassies after the completion of Nitaqat period (Grace period) of implementation of New Labour Policy in Saudi Arabia.

Most Indians are in Saudi Arabia on valid work visa. Photo of a blood camp organized by Tamil Muslims in the kingdom

In Saudi Arabia, ‘Nitaqat’ is the national policy to encourage employment of Saudi nationals in the private sector, according to which it makes mandatory for local companies there to hire one Saudi national for every 10 migrant workers. It was also aimed at contending illegal immigration rackets and smuggling of drugs and arms into the country.

‘Nitaqat’ was implemented in order to streamline their labour market and identifying illegal workers. As per figures received from Saudi Arabia, more than 14 lakh(1.4 million) corrected their status and remained in Saudi Arabia. About more than 1,40,000 left for India without facing any penal action in Saudi Arabia. Most of these workers were staying illegally and returned with the help of Emergency Certificate (EC) issued by the Embassy. It is reported by the Embassy of India in Saudi Arabia that the number of Indians in Saudi Arabia has increased during the Nitaqat/grace period. Hence, it may be stated that Nitaqat has not adversely affected Indian workers.

A statement submitted before Lok Sabha on Wednesday by Minister of State Overseas Indian Affairs General (Retd.) V.K. Singh shows state-wise break-up of ECs (as on January, 2014) issued by the Indian Embassy as follows: