Saudi Arabia launches digital platform to ensure wage protection, human rights of expat workers
Saudi Arabia is set to implement a range of digitally driven initiatives to enhance working conditions and safeguard the rights of foreign workers, including those from India. Officials from the Human Resources and Social Development Ministry outlined the Kingdom’s new labor framework on Thursday, aligning with its Vision 2030 goals. The reforms aim to protect workers’ rights and curb illegal immigration.
At the core of these efforts is the Musaned platform, a digital tool designed to support expatriate workers, particularly in the domestic sector. The system will benefit workers from ten African countries, including Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia, as well as nine Asian nations such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Philippines.
Musaned provides foreign workers access to their employment contracts and updates through a dedicated app. Additionally, foreign embassies will receive "view access" to details regarding their nationals working in Saudi Arabia, including employer names and locations. This transparency aims to streamline the resolution of labor disputes.
A key aspect of Musaned is its ability to conduct background checks on employers, helping prevent labor rights violations. Additionally, the platform plays a crucial role in monitoring immigration by preventing the entry of unauthorized individuals.
The platform also integrates contract insurance and health benefits while ensuring compliance with a wage protection system. It tracks employers' financial transactions to ensure workers receive their salaries on time, reinforcing contractual obligations.
Saudi Arabia’s domestic labor market heavily relies on workers from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. With 1.4 million Indian workers, India ranks second, following Bangladesh, which has 2.7 million workers in the Kingdom. Pakistan follows closely with 2.1 million workers. Other contributing nations, such as Nepal, Indonesia, and the Philippines, are also expected to benefit from the platform’s reforms.
Officials noted that from 2021 to 2024, 12,649 labor lawsuits involving Indian domestic workers were filed in Saudi Arabia. The new platform aims to facilitate the efficient settlement of such cases.
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Bypolls: K'taka Cong Minority Abdul Jabbar chief resigns amid allegations of 'internal conspiracy'
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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Congress Minority Department President K Abdul Jabbar announced his resignation from the post on Saturday, a day after a group of Muslim leaders accused members of their own party of "conspiring" to defeat the official candidate in Davanagere South.
Jabbar, an MLC, was an aspirant for the Congress ticket from the Davanagere South Assembly segment.
"It has been an honor for me to serve as Chairman of the KPCC Minority department and have worked to the best of my ability during assembly elections 2023 and followed by Parliament polls and many such occasions whenever the party needed the minority department and showed results. I have toured the entire state of Karnataka and worked to align the minorities with Congress values and principles. Most of it is available in the public domain," Jabbar has said in a letter to the party.
"Minority voters and minority office bearers are the backbone of our great Congress party and certainly deserve better," he said.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President, confirmed Jabbar's resignation.
"I won't speak about this now, I have got some reports. The Minority President has submitted his resignation. I will verify things, I will seek a report from local leaders after that I will speak," he told reporters in response to a question on internal conspiracy.
A rift within the Karnataka Congress surfaced on Friday, a day after the bypolls to two Assembly constituencies in the state, as a group of Muslim leaders alleged a "conspiracy" by some of their own senior party leaders to defeat the official candidate in Davanagere South.
However, they asserted that despite efforts by some within to project that Congress "betrayed" Muslims, the party candidate Samarth Mallikarjun will win in Davanagere South, the constituency where the community has a significant presence.
They said the party finally named Samarth Mallikarjun as the candidate after considering all factors and taking all Muslim leaders into confidence. Despite this, a massive campaign, including from some within the party, projected the Congress as having "betrayed" the minorities by denying them tickets.
Chief Whip in the Legislative Council Saleem Ahmed, MLAs Rizwan Arshad, Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan, MLC Bilkis Bano, and other Congress leaders addressed a joint press conference on Friday, claiming an "internal conspiracy".
According to party sources, these Muslim leaders have also complained to AICC and state party leadership, alleging "internal sabotage" in Davanagere South.
Though the leaders did not name anyone, several party sources said their attack was directed at State Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan and Jabbar among others.
Khan, who had openly demanded the Davanagere South ticket for a Muslim candidate, initially stayed away from campaigning in the constituency, citing his Kerala poll responsibilities.
However, he addressed a press meet with Samarth's father and Minister SS Mallikarjun at the request of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Jabbar too had not actively participated in the campaigning, despite hailing from Davanagere.
Bypolls for Davanagere South were held along with Bagalkot on Thursday. The election was necessitated following the death of sitting MLAs Shamanur Shivashankarappa and H Y Meti respectively. Samarth is the grandson of Shivashankarappa.
Muslim disgruntlement appears to be a concern for the Congress in Davanagere South. With 14 of the 25 candidates in the fray belonging to the community, there are apprehensions within the party about a split in votes, which could benefit the BJP.
Given its significant presence in the constituency, the Muslim community strongly demanded the Congress ticket for Davanagere South. Some party factions had opposed giving the ticket to the Shamanur family.
Although the Congress was successful in persuading rebel candidate Sadiq Pailwan to withdraw from the contest, he remained in the fray as the move came after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations.
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