Migrant complains he has heavy workload and gets little rest City man fights to get out of Saudi

A resident of the city is battling to get out of the clutches of his kafil (empoyer) in Saudi Arabia due to the harassment meted out to him.

Mr Mohd Taufeeq, 35, a resident of Talabkatta, went to Saudi Arabia a year ago. He is ill and being overworked and wants to return, but is unable to do so as the kafil has his passport, said his sister Ms Farzana.

“My brother went to Saudi Arabia last year for a better life. He was happy for a few days initially as he was hired to work as a driver. He drove the kafil’s car for three months,” Ms Farzana said.

After that, the kafil stopped told him to do household chores.

“Taufeeq also agreed but as the days passed the workload increased. He was unhappy with the kafil because he wasn’t giving him time to rest and his health started deteriorating,” she said.

“When he complained to the kafil about this and said he wanted to return, the kafil told Taufeeq that he could not go home until he completed his tenure of two years,” Ms Farzana said.

“It’s now a year and he is unable to bear the torture. How can he continue for another year,” Ms Farzana asked.

Mr Mohd Ghouse, a social worker in the Old City, said, “It’s known that once people land in Saudi Arabia their passports are taken by their kafils. Before planning to migrate they should think of the consequences and take a wise decision.”

Mr Ghouse said those who were migrating for jobs were not counselled about the working and living conditions abroad. This in the backdrop of dozens of reports of workers from India being harassed and even framed in crimes.

“Most of them are not well educated. With dreams of becoming rich overnight they land in a mess. It’s not that everyone who goes there is facing problems but the unlucky ones get trapped,” Mr Ghouse said.

He said the government should take the initiative to start awareness programmes for those planning to go abroad for work.