MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI MUNI LALL)
(a): Due to economic slow down in Gulf Countries including Saudi
Arabia many expatriate workers have become redundant. The government
of the Gulf Countries are, therefore, temporarily going slow on
recruitment of foreign labour. It is hoped that the situation will
improve as and when economic conditions improve and redundant workers
are absorbed.
(b) & (c): In Saudi Arabia language interpretation service is
provided by the Mission, inter alia, in the following circumstances:
(a) In the Labour Courts at the Investigation level, Primary
Commission level and Higher Commission level, at Riyadh and Jeddah
where the Indian Missions are located;
From Hindi/Urdu/English/Malayalam into Arabic and vice versa;
(b) At police stations in Riyadh and Jeddah from
Hindi/Urdu/English/Malayalam into Arabic and vice versa;
(c) In settlement of disputes between workers and sponsors at the
premises of Missions or at the Sponsors` offices-
From Hindi Urdu/English/Malayalam/Tamil/Telugu/Bengali into
Arabic and vice versa;
(d) At Shariat courts located in various parts of Saudi Arabia
From Hindi/Urdu/English/Malayalam into Arabic and vice versa.
In UAE, to the extent possible officials having knowledge of
Indian languages and local language (i.e. Arabic) are deployed at the
receptions and counters. The interpreter of the Embassy provided
assistance in translation from Indian languages to English/local
language for settlement of Labour disputes between Indian workers and the
local employers. Authorised legal translators are available locally for
undertaking legal translations of documents from English to Arabic and
Arabic to English.
(d) & (e): The Indian Missions/Posts are fully sensitized to the
problems of Indian citizens, including Indian workers, and render the
required assistance, in the framework of the laws of the host countries.
Labour sections in Indian Missions/ Posts in the Gulf countries (with
large Indian workforce) specifically focus on employment related
problems of Indian workers and render assistance on a whole range of
issues including non-payment of dues, harassment, arrests, death, death
compensation and repatriation.
