ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis said on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia would bar companies from laying off Pakistani employees for three months and ask the owners and management of these organizations to continue paying salaries during the period.

Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari, the prime minister’s special assistant on overseas Pakistanis, said he had requested the measure to support Pakistani workers during his video call meeting with Saudi Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Development Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser.

In an official handout, the Pakistani ministry quoted Dr. Nasser as saying, “Saudi companies will not lay off laborers for the next three months” and that “all employees will continue receiving their salary during this three months’ time.”

The Kingdom also decided to extend the duration of entry and exit visas for Pakistani workers, the ministry said. 

“Pakistanis labor force will enjoy free of cost visa extension until December,” the statement quoted the Saudi minister as saying. 
Last month, the Saudi authorities decided to extend the period of validity of exit and reentry visas that expire between Feb. 25 and May 24 for another three months without any charge.

The Kingdom’s decision to extend the visas will benefit the downsized workers in Saudi Arabia and those laborers who were not in the country when the COVID-19 lockdown was announced by Riyadh and they could not return to their employment places before international flights were suspended.

According to the Pakistani ministry’s press release, those who had already been laid off by their employers would also get official cooperation and the Kingdom’s relevant authorities would ensure that their dues were properly cleared.

Officials from both sides agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations during crisis and soon discuss the idea of resuming flight operations between the two countries.