Fresh drive to help illegal Indian workers in Saudi Arabia

Foreigners who have not corrected labour and residency status are being arrested and deported from the Gulf Kingdom.  

The 2.8 million plus strong Indians in Saudi Arabia is the largest expatriate community in the country.  

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said yesterday that the government is closely watching the situation in Saudi Arabia with 1.34 lakh Indian workers already returning to the homeland.

Meanwhile, a delegation from India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry in India held the second review meeting of India-Saudi Arabia Joint Commission here yesterday.

The team also included representatives from the Ministries of Labour and Interior.

Saudi Arabia is the world's largest oil exporter and has the Arab world's largest economy with a bilateral trade of more than USD 43 billion with India.