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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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
