Top Indian official in Saudi Arabia to help stranded workers

A top Indian official has arrived in Saudi Arabia and has met with the kingdom's labour minister to discuss ways to help thousands of Indian laborers who say they have not been paid their wages in months and are stranded with no way out of the kingdom.

Minister of State for External Affairs General Vijay Kumar Singh issued a statement after meeting Labor Minister Mufrej al-Haqbani Wednesday, saying the problem is that one company has not provided "humanitarian facilities" in line with Saudi laws.

While he did not name the company, the Saudi Labor Ministry has fined and suspended the services of construction firm Saudi Oger for not paying its workers' wages in months.

Singh says Saudi Arabia is "providing free passage" to all those wanting to return to India.