Qutubuddin

An Indian expatriate worker who came to the Kingdom to work as a ladies tailor died allegedly due to being denied medical treatment by his sponsor.

His fellow workers are also demanding to be repatriated home, citing poor living conditions and other irregularities.

Qutubuddin, who hailed from Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh, died on Nov. 4 due to lack of medical aid, his colleagues told Arab News.

According to the colleagues, Qutubuddin was suffering from severe chest pain. They called their employer several times, but he came with the medicine only on the evening of the following day.

He died three days later and his body is being kept at the hospital, they said.

The workers also said that two other tailors were ill and in need of urgent medical aid.

A total of 71 tailors from the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Tamil Nadu arrived in the Kingdom 18 months ago to work as ladies tailors for a fashion and garment factory located in the Maqbara Industrial area of the city.

The workers accused the sponsor of confining them in the factory which doubles up as their accommodation and said that he does not let them step out even for Friday prayers.

The workers also complained that the employer was demanding SR5,000 to repatriate them back home, a sum they can’t afford and neither are they able to continue to work in the present circumstances.

Most of these workers are illiterate and are desperately looking for assistance to be repatriated home. They have been appealing to different quarters, including a renowned Riyadh-based Indian social worker.

 
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