Hyderabad: Indian workers in Saudi Arabia will be hit hard, starting July 1, as the kingdom doubles the annual visa charges for their dependents from Saudi Riyal (SR) 50 to SR 100 per month for each dependent. Worse, the charges will double again next year and again by 2020. Blue-collar workers earning SR 900 (about Rs 15,514) to SR 1,500 (Rs 25,860) a month will be the hardest hit, and many of them are from Telangana.
At present, non-Saudi workers on a Iqamah, or work visa, have to pay SR 50 ('862) per month for each dependent. From July 1, that charge doubles to SR 100 (Rs 1,724). Mohammad Riyaz from Old City, who has settled in Saudi, said that the charges are mandatory for those who want to keep their family in the kingdom. “Companies pay for the Iqamah, but not for dependent visas, but they give us proper supporting documents to obtain dependent visas,” Riyaz said.
Riyaz has been in the Saudi for 10 years, with his wife and two daughters. “From July, I have to pay SR 3,600 per annum on dependent visas, apart from paying for my children’s education. Next year, the visa charges go up to SR 7,200, in 2019 it will be SR 10,800, and in 2020 it will be SR 14,400. My salary is SR 2,000 per month now, and I may get increment of SR 500 in 2020. I’ll be spending half my salary on dependent visas. Most workers like me will have to send their families back to India. I can’t even imagine the situation of workers earning less than I do.” Shaik Chand Pasha, president of the Gulf Returned Welfare Members’ Society, said that blue collar workers from Telangana will bear the brunt of the hike in charges.
