Ambedkar Nagar/ Abha: A video released by stranded Indian labourers in Saudi Arabia has drawn attention to the precarious conditions faced by migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan, many of whom say they have been without wages, food or legal protection for months.
Video Appeal From Abha Signals Deepening Distress
At least 161 Indian migrant workers, including nine from Ambedkar Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, are stranded in Abha, Saudi Arabia, after allegedly being denied salaries and basic necessities for nearly three months. In a video circulated on social media, the workers are seen pleading for urgent intervention by Indian authorities, saying they are struggling to survive without regular food or income.
The workers claim they have not been paid since November and that their condition has steadily worsened. Many appear visibly exhausted in the footage, describing hunger, fear and uncertainty as their daily reality. The appeal has since been shared widely, prompting concern among families, activists and migrant welfare groups in India.
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Migrant Trail From Eastern Uttar Pradesh to Saudi Arabia
Those stranded include labourers from several districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh—Ambedkar Nagar, Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Lucknow, Lakhimpur, Azamgarh and Basti—as well as workers from Bihar and Rajasthan. Most had travelled to Saudi Arabia through local agents, hoping to secure steady employment in painting and construction work.
Family members said repeated efforts to contact employers and intermediaries have yielded no results. With communication channels failing, the workers decided to make their plight public through a video message, hoping it would reach authorities and trigger action.
Expired Visas, Withheld Passports and Allegations of Coercion
Relatives and activists allege that many of the workers’ visas expired several months ago, yet the employing company neither renewed their legal status nor facilitated their return to India. Several workers claim their passports are being held by the employer, restricting their movement and preventing them from leaving the country.
Families also allege that despite expired visas, the labourers are being compelled to continue working. Workers reportedly fear detention if they step outside, adding to their vulnerability. Social workers in contact with the group said the men described overcrowded living conditions, lack of medical care and constant anxiety over arrest and starvation.
Families and Activists Seek Urgent Government Intervention
In villages such as Amia Bamanpur in Ambedkar Nagar, families of stranded workers said they are themselves facing financial strain but are still sending small amounts of money to keep their relatives alive. In several households, the migrant worker is the sole breadwinner, compounding the distress.
Migrant rights activists have approached the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, urging emergency repatriation, payment of pending wages and immediate humanitarian assistance. They have requested temporary shelter, food support and legal help for the workers until they can return home.
Legal experts note that confiscation of passports and non-payment of wages violate Saudi labour laws as well as international labour standards. As the video continues to circulate, pressure is mounting on authorities to act swiftly, with families saying timely diplomatic intervention is now the only hope of ending months of hunger, fear and uncertainty.
