COVID-19: Saudi Arabia bars firms from laying off Pakistani workers for 3 months
Both sides discuss issues faced by Pakistani workers in kingdom
Islamabad: The Saudi government has decided to bar the companies from laying off Pakistani workers for the next three months.
The decision to the effect was taken on the request of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (OP&HRD) Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, an OP&HRD Ministry press release said on Tuesday.
Saudi Vice Minister for Labour and Social Development Dr Abdullah bin Nasser Abu Thuniyan, in a video conference call, assured SAPM Zulfikar Bukhari that the Saudi firms would not expel the Pakistani workers for the next three months and pay them salaries during the period.
The Saudi government would also ensure full payment of dues to the already laid-off workers, he added.
The Saudi minister also announced free of cost extension in the visas of Pakistani labourers till December.
Both the sides discussed the issues faced by the Pakistani manpower in Saudi Arabia in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.
The SAPM asked the Saudi vice minister to ensure help to the Pakistani workers in every possible way.
The two sides agreed to remain in constant contact during the prevailing situation. The resumption of flight operations between the two countries also came under discussion.
The Saudi vice minister also informed the SAPM about his government's decisions to extend the entry and exit visas of Pakistani nationals and free of charge services for transfer of remittances to Pakistan through STC pay.
Zulfikar Bukhari expressed his gratitude for the cooperation extended by the Saudi government . "We want to fulfill every need of our nationals in the trying times," he said.