Pak envoy discusses expat welfare with labor minister

Mohammed Naeem Khan, ambassador of Pakistan to Saudi Arabia held a meeting with Adel Fakeih, minister of Labor in his office yesterday. They discussed the employment and welfare of Pakistani expatriate community based in the Kingdom as well as ways to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the field of labor issues. The ambassador thanked the Saudi minister for the support being extended by him and his ministry for the well-being ofPakistan workers. The ambassador emphasized the significant role played by the Pakistani workers in the development of the Kingdom. Fakeih reciprocated the sentiments and stated that Saudi Arabia recognizes the efforts and contribution of the Pakistani workers in its development. Khan stressed on the need for having regular bilateral consultations on labor issues in order to ensure conducive working environment for the Pakistani workers as well as developing better synergy and creating awareness of two countries’ laws and procedures in this regard. The minister welcomed the proposal and highlighted that regular dialogue between the Labor Ministry and its counterpart in Pakistan would result in further cementing the bilateral relationship. He also informed the ambassador that the Ministry of Labor was working on a project aimed at reviewing the conditions of employment in the country and would be inviting seven countries including Pakistan to participate in this project. The ambassador assured him of full support of the Embassy of Pakistan in this regard. Khan also raised the issues of compensation for the Pakistanis who lost their lives or got injured in the gas explosion incident in Riyadh recently. The minister assured that the matter would receive his full attention and support. Issues relating to the vocational training programs for Pakistani workers, more recruitment opportunities for Pakistani manpower, problems faced by workers in respect of kafeels or companies placed in red category, disputes regarding final exit for employees declared as “Haroob” by their kafeels, emergency medical treatment for expatriate workers at the hospitals, issues relating to delays of proceedings in the labor courts were also came under discussion in detail and practical solutions were agreed upon. Both men agreed that there is need to create better awareness of the existing procedures regarding transfer of Iqamas, relationship between kafeel and the employee, other matters relating to Nitaqat system. Agreeing with the suggestion of the aAmbassador of Pakistan, Adel Fakeih informed that he planned to hold a meeting with the representatives of the foreign missions based in Saudi Arabia in order to create better awareness of the rules and procedures established by the Saudi government relating to the foreign workers.