DAMMAM: Complaints have been pouring in over the Nepali Embassy's apparent lack of concern towards plight of migrant Nepali workers stranded in Saudi Arabia.

The Embassy's doors have been repeatedly knocked by the victims seeking to be saved from a legal conundrum in which they fell due to purposeful or inadvertent negligence shown by recruitment agencies in Nepal.

At least 10 Nepali migrant workers had arrived at the Amjad Faisal Otaibi Establishment for Construction Company in Jeddah in the western part of Saudi Arabia around 22 months ago through the Al-naseer Overseas Pvt based in Kathmandu only to find out that the company was on verge of closure.

Numerous appeals have been made to the Consulate General of Nepal based in Jeddah for intervention, but they had fallen on deaf ears, according to Kamurdin Miya of Sunsari district.

"It has been years since we have knocked on the Consulate's door, but the employees there only give us assurances," Miya said, adding "We are crying here whereas our family members are crying back at home, but who will listen to us?"

The company was put on a "red" list by the Saudi government after which the migrant workers have not been able to receive residential permit. The company did not provide the workers with mandatory identity papers due to which the Nepali workers have been stranded.

The workers who have been taken ill are not even receiving medical attention as they do not have residential permit papers. Unless the company under the red list does not take steps for reformation, it will be barred from making any transactions or undertaking any activities and be allowed to shift the workers to other companies.

Prem Narayan from Rajbiraj charged the recruitment company based in Kathmandu of tricking them into working for a company which was about to close. The workers – branded undocumented – will be forced to cough up around 17,000 to 20,000 Saudi riyals or Rs 500,000 to 600,000 in fine before being allowed to return home.

They are subjected to repeated arrests by police and the arrests increase the amount of their fine. They have implored for help as they will not be able to return without making such huge payment which is invariably beyond their capacity.

Meanwhile, Consulate General, Rewati Raman Paudel, at the Consulate Office in Jeddah says efforts are on to rescue the workers.