Fifty-three Nepali migrant workers have been stranded in Saudi Arabia for two months without work or pay, with dozens unable to return home despite receiving exit permits.

The workers, employed by Mustafa Ali Athifah Company in Dammam, said they have been confined to their labour camp without wages or assignments.

“Some of us have not been paid for three months, others for up to five months. No one has had work for two months,” Binod Mahara said. “Months have passed, but our problems remain unresolved.”

Most of the workers have been employed for around 17 months after being recruited through Nepal Life Recruitment Agency.

Mahara said the employer has stopped providing food to workers who have already received exit visas but has not arranged their return. “We do not even have money for food. How can we buy tickets?” he said.

He added that the camp manager informed workers that food supplies would be cut off and asked them not to complain.

According to the Nepali Embassy in Riyadh, 34 of the 53 workers have received permission to return. Labour Counsellor Kabi Raj Upreti said the embassy is pressuring the employer to arrange tickets and clear unpaid wages.

The employer is reportedly unwilling to repatriate all workers at once.

Workers first informed the embassy on April 1 about unpaid wages and lack of work. An embassy team visited the camp earlier on March 7.

Upreti said records of unpaid wages and residence permits have been compiled, and efforts are underway to facilitate repatriation.

The company has cited internal shareholder disputes and project delays for its financial problems. Workers said they stopped reporting to duty two months ago after repeated assurances failed.