JEDDAH — Director General of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development branch in Makkah Abdullah Al-Olayan addressed on Monday the representatives of a number of companies willing to employ Indian workers rendered jobless. The meeting was facilitated by Indian Consulate General at its office. Representatives from some 25 companies turned up at the request of the consulate. Olayan told them that the authorities will facilitate the transfer of sponsorship and procedures to renew the iqamas (residence permits) of workers. Neither the workers nor new employers will have to pay for any of these services. The government will make the workers' current sponsors pay iqama renewal and sponsorship transfer fees. Olayan said that new employers will have to sign new contracts with these workers specifying monthly salary and other benefits. Addressing the gathering through video conferencing from Makkah Indian Consul General Noor Rahman Sheikh expressed gratitude to the Saudi government for all the support and cooperation. "The Saudi government has been very kind to allow iqama renewal, transfer of sponsorship and stamping of exit visas free of charge," he said, expressing the hope that the exercise undertaken by Indian consulate will help jobless workers find employment. Later the representatives of the companies visited labor camps in Shumaisi, Ogex, Makrouna, and the one located on the highway. The companies are ready to hire 500 to 1,000 workers each, according to consulate sources.
