Jeddah: A Hyderabadi man (name withheld) is standing in a queue at a bank in Riyadh, excited as he is set to receive a hefty sum of money which can change his life now.
Clearing debts incurred after his daughter’s wedding, treatment of his wife, building a house and securing admission into a college of repute for his son, all dreams may be coming true after nearly thirty years of service in Saudi Oger, which is now defunct.
Nearly eight years after the protracted claims, legal formalities and a liquidating process, the former employees of the defunct construction giant Saudi Oger are now receiving their pending arrears and wages.
Like the Hyderabadi technician, scores of Indians are joyfully receiving their arrears. There were nearly 10,000 Indians employed in Saudi Oger, according to an estimate. The former employees have praised the role of Saudi authorities.
The giant construction company, owned by the family of late Lebanese leader Rafiq Harii, was engaged in the construction and maintenance of some mega projects of the Kingdom and had employed a larger number of Asian expats, including Indians, in various regions of Saudi Arabia. The company collapsed in 2016 and defaulted on payment of salaries and any other arrears to its employees and suppliers.
Saudi Arabian authorities have now started to disburse the payment of wages and other end-of-service benefits to former employees of the company. In the first phase, employees with dues up to 5 lakh Riyals can receive their payment directly from Alinma Bank by producing their ID.
It is to be noted that many of its employees returned to India and are waiting to receive their arrears.
In August 2016, then Indian Minister of State for external affairs VK Singh called on the Indian employees of the company and assured them that India was actively engaged with Saudi Arabian authorities to settle the outstanding dues to employees.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the consulate in Jeddah were in constant touch with plaintiffs and liquidation team members.
Saudi Arabian authorities have accorded top priority to the issue and held weekly meetings to expedite the claims process to ensure justice to trenched employees.
The Executive Court in Riyadh has estimated the accumulated debts of Saudi Oger to be at more than SR 40 billion, including SR 2.6 billion owed to employees in outstanding dues such as delayed salaries and allowances, end-of-service awards and other entitlements, reported local media quoting legal sources.
WhatsApp groups by former employees, including those who left for India and remained in Saudi by working with other employers, played an important role in updating and disseminating accurate information.
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