Twenty-three migrant Nepali workers based in Dammam Jubail of Saudi Arabia have been stranded and their plight is deteriorating day by day. 

The Nepali workers have not been able to return home as they have not received salaries for the past five months. They have been tormented physically and psychologically after their company stopped giving them food for the past one month. 

The Nepalis, living nearby Jubail Aram bridge, have filed a case at local Labour Court seeking legal support to get their salary and return home. However, the court has not conducted hearing on the case. “Some of the friends have not received their salary since January and February,” Dipen Kumar Chhetri, a native of Dhital VDC-4 in Kaski district, told the Post. “It’s been more than a month since the company stopped giving us food. Our daily life is becoming miserable every day.”

The victim Nepalis halted their work since June 14. “We stopped work after we were not paid salary. From the very day we were deprived of food. The next day, we were asked to join duty. But we said we were hungry and would resume work if we were given food,” said Chhetri. “Then the manager never returned.”

The company is owned by India. The victims had filed complaint at Labour Office demanding salary and their repatriation. Though the Labour Office summoned the company four times, it never showed up, the victims said. “The company did not turn up even though the office wrote summon letter. It seems now our case will move to the higher court,” said Yognarayan Chaudhary. 

The victim workers have been working since past five months to five years. Rajesh Ramtel, of Ghampesal-6, Gorkha, who arrived here on February 24, said the condition of new worker is even worse. “I paid Rs 80,000 to come to Saudi Arabai. But I have only got 217 Riyal (Rs 3,877) since I came here. I haven’t been able to pay back the loan I took before coming here. The family is giving pressure. But the situation of company is like this,” he said, “Manpower Company doesn’t care. It only tells to work. We don’t have work here.”

Siddhartha Buddha Overseas based in Chakrapath, Kathmandu, had send workers to the company. The newly arrived workers have demanded action against the manpower company, accusing the latter of trying getaway from the responsibility. 

The victims said that they were compelled to return to work for the company as it used to keep their salaries’ due. “The company doesn’t give all our due money before going to holiday. It kept my 7000 Riyal due. They said they will give us the money only after returning back from holiday,” said Chhetri. “Otherwise I wouldn’t have come back.”

Non-resident Nepali Association (NRN) Saudi Arabia has been providing relief to the victim workers. “We are getting relief from NRN. How long can they afford it, we would rather want to get rescued from here as soon as possible,” he said. 

The stranded workers  are:

Laxman Bista, of Khotang district, Sambhu Kumar Yadav, of Janakpur, Dipen Kumar Chhetri and Bishwonath Chamauriya of Kaski, Rajesh Ramtel of Gorkha, Siri Chaudhary of Bara, Jhal Bahadur BK of Baglung, Yamlal Bharati of Rolpa, Ganga Ram Chaudhary, of Dang, Yognarayan Chaudhary and Kumar Gurung, of Nawalparasi, Bal Bahadur Thapa of Tanhaun, Sukadev Chaudhary and Ramnath Bachhar, or Bara, Khadak Chadar, of Rukum, Mahal Singh Rai, of Khotang, Bharat Chaudhary, of Bara, Ramesh Raj Poudel, Harkaraj Tamang, of Kaski, Yam Bahadur Rana, of Nawalparasi, Dil Bahadur Ale, of Tanahun, and Bikram Kumar Shrestha and Ramayan Kewat of Nawalparasi district.