Modi in Riyadh: Pact inked for Indian workers’ welfare

According to reports, thousands of Indians are languishing in the prisons of United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia over the past three years for various offences, including violation of national frontiers of these countries.

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On Sunday, the two sides signed an agreement on labour cooperation for recruitment of General Category Workers.

“Saudi Arabia has signed such an agreement for the first time with any country,” a senior Indian official told The Indian Express. This framework agreement will take care of the workers’ interests and rights, he said.

The joint statement said that while recognizing the vibrant people to people contacts that provided strong bonds between the two countries, the two leaders lauded the valuable role of the Indian community in Saudi Arabia and its contribution to the progress and development of both India and Saudi Arabia.

Both sides also welcomed the establishment of a Joint Working Group on Consular issues under the umbrella of the India-Saudi Arabia Joint Commission to discuss consular issues on a regular basis.

The Ministry of External Affairs’ secretary (economic relations) Amar Sinha said, “People who come here for work, are promised something but do not get it always. This definitive framework will give them their rights.”