Seventy Nepali Drivers Stranded in Saudi Arabia for Four Months Face Work and Salary Issues

Seventy Nepali drivers who traveled to Saudi Arabia through Al Shahid Overseas from Kathmandu have been stranded for four months without work or pay. Some of these stranded drivers have been assigned labor tasks without safety equipment, while others face problems with food and accommodation. These victims, who paid millions of rupees seeking foreign employment, have filed cases in the Saudi labor court to seek justice.

More than fifty Nepali drivers stuck in Saudi Arabia have remained without work for nearly four months. They were sent through Al Shahid Overseas, located in Chandol, Kathmandu Metropolitan City–4. The overseas agency had advertised for 50 experienced Saudi-based drivers and 150 Nepali license holders. Among the 64 individuals who went to Saudi through Mehn Human Resource Company as heavy drivers, most Nepalis have not secured employment.

Having obtained labor permits in February, these drivers have yet to receive any job assignments. They are grouped and placed in various locations. Only a few with heavy driver licenses from Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries have been put to work, while those holding Nepali licenses or light vehicle Saudi licenses remain unemployed to date. According to the manpower advertisement, monthly salaries for Saudi license holders were set at 1,600 Riyals plus trip allowances.

The contract signed by Al Shahid Overseas, representing Mehn Human Resource Company, specified a monthly salary of 1,800 Saudi Riyals for heavy drivers, an eight-hour workday, six working days per week, one day off, a two-year contract term, and provision of food and accommodation by the company. When informed about their difficulties in Nepal, the manpower director, Mr. Raut, assured the workers that solutions were underway, according to the stranded laborers.