India worries for its workers as Nitaqat crackdown continues

The Indian government has expressed concerns over the fate of its workers in the Kingdom after the deadline for the implementation of the ‘Nitaqat’ (naturalization) system was up last Wednesday. The government has assured its support to workers in distress in the wake of the naturalization scheme aimed at increasing employment of Saudi nationals across various sectors. Indian Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi spoke to Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao via telephone yesterday and pledged support to Indian nationals affected by the new Saudi labor policy.
Ravi sought more information from the Indian envoy about the impact of the new labor policy on the huge Indian diaspora living in Saudi Arabia. Asked about the discussions the Indian minister had with the envoy, Sibi George, deputy chief at the Indian mission, said that the embassy has geared itself well to extend all possible support to the workers. All related information, including details of the services offered by the embassy, are posted on the Indian embassy website.
George said “there is no need for panic; the Indian embassy is in constant touch with both with the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labor on this issue.” With over two million workers in the Kingdom, the Indian community is the largest foreign work force. Workers from India across the six Gulf states constitute about six million out of the estimated 25 million abroad.
According the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, about 48 percent of the Indian workers in the Gulf are in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait alone. The new labor policy of the Kingdom reserving substantial percentage of jobs for Saudis is a major issue for India as it could lead to reduced employment in the Kingdom for Indians. “It's a serious issue that will affect not only India but also other countries. I spoke to the Indian ambassador and have asked him to keep me informed on developments,” said Minister Ravi while speaking to TV channels in the south Indian state of Kerala yesterday.
He noted there were generally “good conditions and relations” between Saudi employers and Indian workers. “The other advantage that our country has excellent relations with the Saudi government,” said Ravi, adding that Saudi Arabia continues to be the leading destination among low and semi-skilled workers from India, attracting 289,297 people in 2011alone.
Another official has said the number of workers visiting the embassy is growing steadily. A large number of workers have begun visiting and calling the embassy after a section of local media announced a general amnesty. Yet the embassy has clarified that “it has not received any communication in this regard from the Saudi government so far.”
“The embassy would notify the expatriate community if any such notification is received from the Saudi side in the near future,” said a notice posted on the embassy's website. The Indian embassy said that the travel document (Emergency Travel Certificate) issued during any amnesty is meant for a one-way journey to India only. “Those Indian nationals who possess valid passports need not apply for an Emergency Travel Certificate during amnesty,” read the notice, which was posted on the embassy website.