DOHA: Seventy Nepali youths who arrived in Saudi Arabia for foreign employment are stranded in the oil-rich country.
They had reached Khobar, Saudi Arabia via Senate International Manpower, Kathmandu 30 months ago.
Laxmi Poudel of Jhapa said that they are in trouble with Sash International Company in Jubail, have not paid them for many months.
“We’ve been working for Sash International for the last 30 months,” he told Khabarhub, adding, “We are in trouble as we have not got salary for nine months.”
He said that around 70-80 Nepalis like him have not been paid for many months.
“We are unemployed for four months now, the company has neither renewed nor has taken initiation for an exit visa,” Poudel shared his sorrow to Khabarhub.
The stranded Nepalis also requested the Government of Nepal to take initiative to take them to Nepal.
They said that when they contacted Surendra Khanal, the agent of the manpower company for help, agent Khanal rather than addressing their problem has been putting pressure and intimidation on them.
Although the Nepalese Embassy in Riyadh was informed about their problem four months ago, the stranded Nepalis regretted the embassy failed to address their problem as it did not have access to high officials in Saudi Arabia.
“Although the Non-Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA), Saudi Arabia has been informed, we have not been heard yet,” they added ahead.
Stating that they do not have a single rupee to call now and the condition of the company has deteriorated, they have requested the concerned agencies including the Department of Foreign Employment, Ministry of Labor and Nepali Embassy to rescue them safely.
Among the Nepalis stranded in Saudi Arabia are 70 to 80 people including Laxmi Poudel, Prem Prakash Adhikari, Bibek Pariyar, Shiva Manjari Ghimire, Rabindra Malla, Rajendra Bishwakarma, Rajkumar Basnet, Dhan Bahadur Tamang, Shyam Niraula, Manoj Rai and Nol Bahadur Sinjali.
Khabarhub’s attempts to get details from agent Khanal were not successful.
Lately, a large number of Nepalis have been stranded in Saudi Arabia due to the company’s expulsion of workers. Many have suffered as the companies banish them from the job without paying them.
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