MY recent column on protecting the workers’ rights (July 26) and bemoaning the lack of support from various embassies and consulates representing the bulk of these workers elicited an immediate response from Pakistan Ambassador Adm. (retd.) Shahid Karimullah.
His response with very little editing goes as follows:
“...I feel it is my moral and official obligation to provide you feedback with specific reference to Pakistan...raised in the aforementioned article. In this regard, since my assumption as ambassador in February 2006, I have called on a number of times on all the Saudi ministers, especially the minister/deputy ministers of labor and interior because they are directly related to the affairs of the expatriate workers.
“I also discuss problems of the Pakistani community with the regional governors during my frequent meetings with them, never hesitating to take up individual cases of Pakistani nationals with Saudi ministers and governors. Even many cases for free-of-cost medical treatments for people suffering from terminal illnesses like cancer and those needing heart surgery were referred to the concerned governors. You will be pleased to know that most of my recommendations/requests were accepted by the concerned Saudi authorities.
“It is also pertinent to mention that the government of Pakistan has posted four community welfare attaches — two each at the embassy in Riyadh and at the consulate general in Jeddah, along with support staff who are working under my command. The prime responsibility of the said officers is to look after our expatriates and to resolve the problems of the Pakistani workers.
WITH regard to the action against Pakistani recruitment agencies for their illegal activities, Pakistani law is very clear. As per Emigration Law of the Ministry of Labor of Pakistan, only licensed and registered recruiting agents who are called ‘Overseas Employment Promoters’ are allowed to recruit workers after obtaining approval, in each case from the director/protector of emigrants of the concerned areas in Pakistan. Besides, another department entitled “Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment” attached to the Ministry of Labor of Pakistan regulates the recruitment of Pakistani nationals for employment in foreign countries. Pakistani workers can lodge a complaint to the Pakistani Embassy or Consulate General within six months of arrival to Saudi Arabia if they are cheated by any Pakistani overseas employment promoter. We always take prompt action on such complaints and the director general of the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment in Islamabad is requested to take strict legal action against the concerned for redressal of grievances of emigrant workers.
“You are aware that the current worker sponsorship liaison between the worker and his sponsor manifests itself in an unequal relationship. A foreign worker can neither apply for another job, nor could he leave the country against his sponsor’s wishes. His passport is confiscated by his kafeel (sponsor) upon arrival and he is literally at the mercy of his sponsor for medical treatment, obtaining a driving license or renting a flat.
“It has been observed that most of the companies except multinational enterprises violate the labor law. Most glaring violations are committed by kafeels who are running small businesses or agricultural farms. Recently a ray of hope has emerged for expatriate workers as press reports suggest that the Saudi government is considering changing the current sponsorship system in hopes of alleviating some of the miseries of the foreign worker. Hopefully, things will change positively in days to come.
“With regard to pursuing workers’ rights in courts, Pakistan missions in Saudi Arabia employ Arabic translators and Muaqqibs (pursuers) who daily attend Saudi courts to resolve disputes of Pakistani workers with their Saudi employers. The workers brief and explain their cases to the Pakistani officials who stand by them during court appearances. Most of the Pakistani workers cannot speak the Arabic language, and therefore would not be able to explain the details of their grievances to Saudi lawyers if hired. Recently, the government of Pakistan has permitted me to hire a full-time legal consultant for contesting cases of Pakistani workers in Saudi courts...”
— Ambassador Adm. (retd.) Shahid Karimullah
It is indeed uplifting to hear such words from Shahid Karimullah. The honorable ambassador is a champion of the just causes of Pakistani workers. May I add that he is also a highly decorated war hero for his services as chief of the Pakistani Naval Command in his previous tenure.
Now would other ambassadors/consuls general facing workers’ issues in the Kingdom be heroic enough to follow his lead?
