THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Like millions from the state, Arun Sudhakaran, a cameraman from Kadakkal in Kollam district flew to Saudi Arabia with dreams of a good life in sight. 17 months on he is stranded with no work and no salary and his passport in the custody of the employer.
Desperate to get out of the trap and get back home he has put out a twitter message seeking the help of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Though a recent law enacted in Saudi Arabia insists that employers or sponsors should not confiscate passport of employees, Arun is yet to enjoy that freedom.
Arun who was working as a freelance cameraman in Thiruvananthapuram was promised the job of a cameraman in a production company in Riyadh and salary of 2500 Riyals. On arrival he discovered to his shock that his visa is that of a ‘house driver’ with a salary of 1500 Riyals. This salary too is not regular. “I am paid one month’s salary every two or three months. Seven months’ salary is still pending. When I asked for my passport he refused to give it and is not paying the dues either.”
Arun told Express over phone and voice messages.
He has been putting out messages seeking help to get his salary and return home and is lamenting he is being driven to suicide. Embassy officials in Riyadh has sought information but Arun is not optimistic, seeing the plight of similar employees who are stranded. “Intervention at the highest level alone can save me. I am confined to my room, there is no work now and may starve to death,” he told Express.
The agent who sent him to Riyadh accepted that he had taken Rs 25,000 in return. “I had warned him that salary could be irregular but he was desperate to go. As soon as I heard that he is facing problems I returned the money to his mother,” the agent Binu told Express.