(Image source from: www.Indiatimes.com)

About 3,000 Indian workers stranded in Saudi Arabia will be provided return tickets from the government to those willing to come back and is making efforts to renew permits of those wanting to work at that place, Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said on Thursday.

The Indian mission in Riyadh was also visiting the 13 construction sites where the workers were living to guarantee their well-being, particularly access to medical attention if needed, Badal said quoting a letter from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Badal, who is the food processing industries minister, took up the issue with the external affairs ministry, pointing out that among those stranded were 1,000 from Punjab.

The Indians were not paid wages by their employer and likewise, their residential permits and visas had expired.

Badal said that Swaraj wrote her back informing of the steps taken by the government.

The workers had been hired by one of the biggest construction companies in Saudi Arabia which had to shut shop due to financial losses, Badal said quoting to the letter.

Badal said the Indian authorities were making efforts to ensure the residential permits of the workers were renewed so that they could continue to work in Saudi Arabia if they want.

Swaraj also informed her that she spoke to all concerned Saudi authorities, including the country's foreign minister, regarding this.

The Indian mission was also in touch with the company officials to ensure pending salaries were disbursed, Badal was told.

She said arrangements have also been made to give return tickets to the workers who wanted to come back to India.

-Sowmya Sangam