<![CDATA[Pressat Main Newswire]]> https://pressat.co.uk/rss/ <![CDATA[Pressat Main Newswire]]> https://pressat.co.uk/media/site/logo.png https://pressat.co.uk/rss/ en-gb Copyright: (C) Pressat Pressat <![CDATA[ Migrant workers abandoned by Joannou & Paraskevaides (Overseas) Ltd (In Liquidation) (‘JPO’)in Saudi Arabia su ]]> https://pressat.co.uk/releases/migrant-workers-abandoned-by-joannou-paraskevaides-overseas-ltd-in-liquidation-jpoin-saudi-arabia-su-98c6a82c5cdb7725a8bb29087874dcbf/ https://pressat.co.uk/releases/migrant-workers-abandoned-by-joannou-paraskevaides-overseas-ltd-in-liquidation-jpoin-saudi-arabia-su-98c6a82c5cdb7725a8bb29087874dcbf/ Monday 18 March, 2019

Modern Slavery: We understand from the Indian authorities that following our intervention that Mr Ganapathy Malayandi Vairaban (pictured) one of the migrant workers abandoned by Joannou & Paraskevaides (Overseas) Ltd (In Liquidation) (‘JPO’) in Saudi Arabia who was depilated by and suffering from a kidney disease has been repatriated to his family in Uttarakhand. We hope that he receives the medical treatment he needs to recover.

A migrant worker from Bangladesh suffering from health problems was not so lucky; he died and his remains were recently repatriated.

There are at least 1,000 other migrant workers victims of Joannou & Paraskevaides (Overseas) Ltd (In Liquidation) (‘JPO’) remaining in Saudi Arabia, predominantly Indian nationals despairing to be repatriated to their home countries.

What is preventing these migrant workers from returning home?

Joannou & Paraskevaides (Overseas) Ltd (In Liquidation) (‘JPO’) in Saudi Arabia is one of the multinational construction companies owned by the two Cypriot families Joannou & Paraskevaides

JPO is currently in the process of going into voluntary liquidation. The process started in February 2018. Part of the work force comprised of Cypriots nationals. Early in the liquidation process, JPO ensured that the Cypriot employees were relocated, given alternative employment or repatriated to Cyprus with their full salaries and end of service benefits in full. However, the fate of the predominantly Indian work migrants was deemed not to be a priority by JPO; the migrant workers were not paid their respective salaries and no provisions were made to pay their end of service benefits. In fact the payroll and Human Resources aaspect relating to the migrant workers was transferred to a Saudi registered company, ‘Joannou & Paraskevaides Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’ (‘JPKSA’).

JPKSA operates under Saudi Arabian Law. There is no positive indication as to whether they are going to recover the assets belonging to JPO and how far they going to go to recover and liquidate the assets of JPO to settle the outstanding salaries due to the migrant workers and settle the end of service benefits due to them.

The fact that JPKSA was established to deal with the salaries and payroll of the South Asian migrant workers appears to be calculated and discriminatory.

The migrant workers are desperate and despairing to be repatriated. They have been detained in the most appalling accommodation which had to be recently cleaned and fumigated. They have been in this predicament for one year. Despite being resigned to the fact that they unlikely to recover their overdue salaries and the end of service benefits, the migrant workers want to return home to their families immediately.

Many of the men are experiencing serious health problems. A number have suffered heart attacks, paralysis and hypertension. They do not have the funds to pay for the treatment. Further, some are reluctant to have any medical treatment in Saudi treatment. Neither JPO or the Indian authorities have provided funds for any medical treatment.

In addition, the migrant workers are experiencing a host of problems back at home; their children are prevented from going to school since their school fees have not been paid; members of families are ill or have passed on and the migrant workers are defenceless to help or support their families. This is adding to their anxieties. They are currently spending endless days waiting to return home. Neither the Indian authorities or the representatives of JPO or JPKSA have the courtesy to keep the men advised and/or explain exactly what are they waiting for? Any money due to them can be easily transferred to their respective bank accounts which they can access in India.

What is Preventing the Migrant Workers from Leaving Saudi Arabia?

The migrant workers work permits and visas have expired. They have incurred fines and penalties. Under Saudi law, these outstanding fines and penalties have to be settled before the migrant workers can obtain an ‘Iqama’ which is a sign off by the employers to facilitate the exit papers to leave Saudi Arabia. The migrant workers simply do not have the funds to pay the fines and penalties which total approximately 8,000 Saudi riyals per person.

What can be done?

The Saudi authorities waive the fines and penalties on humanitarian grounds;

Joannou & Paraskevaides pay them from one of their charitable trusts;

The Indian authorities discharge the outstanding amounts. The Indian Government has an ‘Indian Community Welfare Fund’ established to help Indian nationals experiencing difficulties abroad.

Not doing is not a solution.




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http://www.justiceupheld.org.uk 18 Mar 2019 02:10:29 GMT Charities & non-profits
<![CDATA[ Modern Slavery - Abandoned Migrant Workers In Saudi Arabia ]]> https://pressat.co.uk/releases/modern-slavery-abandoned-migrant-workers-in-saudi-arabia-2feca571a9cf7380d08e7a2128379d9f/ https://pressat.co.uk/releases/modern-slavery-abandoned-migrant-workers-in-saudi-arabia-2feca571a9cf7380d08e7a2128379d9f/ Thursday 14 March, 2019

Modern Slavery: Migrant worker abandoned by Joannou & Paraskevaides (Overseas) Ltd (In Liquidation) (‘JPO’) in Saudi Arabia admitted into hospital FIFTEEN days after suffered paralysis.After protests by his co-workers, the Indian authorities eventually admitted him into hospital. His co-workers allege that he in the hospital for one hour and then discharged. Nobody knows for sure what medical treatment he was administered- if at all. He definitely does not have the money to pay for his treatment. As a consequence of his limited mobility, his co-workers have to lift and assist him even for him to attend the bathroom. The denial of medical treatment is inhumane and tantamount to torture as well as an abuse of Human Rights.

Both the Indian and the Saudi authorities do not seem to comprehend that there is absolutely no merit in the men remaining in Saudi Arabia. Further, there is failure by both authorities to recognise the suffering of the abandoned migrant workers. It is evident that JPO does not have the funds to pay their creditors and/or the outstanding and overdue salaries of the migrant workers. Even if funds were available to settle the salaries, they can be transferred to directly to the migrant worker’s bank accounts. The men do not need to be present in Saudi Arabia. It seems that the only thing preventing the men from being repatriated to their home countries is payment of their respective visa fines and penalties so that they obtain an ‘iqama’ - a sign off by the employers so that they can exit Saudi Arabia. Something that can be easily done by the Indian and Saudi authorities. The Indian authorities are waiting for their cue from the Saudi authorities who have no incentive, cause or concern to pull their collective fingers out and expedite matters to save lives. This is a gross dereliction of duty by Joannou & Paraskevaides (Overseas) Ltd (In Liquidation) (‘JPO’), by the Indian and the Saudi authorities.




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http://www.justiceupheld.org.uk 14 Mar 2019 05:36:45 GMT Charities & non-profits
<![CDATA[ Modern Slavery - Persecution of Migrant Workers Under ‘Kafala’ ]]> https://pressat.co.uk/releases/modern-slavery-persecution-of-migrant-workers-under-kafala-5c78cdcd034db953dbedd621ff5734b7/ https://pressat.co.uk/releases/modern-slavery-persecution-of-migrant-workers-under-kafala-5c78cdcd034db953dbedd621ff5734b7/ Sunday 29 April, 2018

26 year old Indian national Gurwinder Singh from Punjab travelled to Saudi Arabia in December, 2015 to work as a Heavy Goods Driver at ‘Ayub Abdullah Al Zunedi in Zulfi’ Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In the first three months of his employment, Gurwinder’s employer failed to pay his salary. Gurwinder’ confronted his employer Ayub Abdullah Al Zunedi in relation to the wilful refusal to pay the salary due to him. Gurwinder alleges that Ayub Abdullah Al Zunedi threatened to kill him for asking for his salary. This is part of the ‘Kafala’ system in action (note below under ‘Further reading’).

Gurwinder took his employer to the Labour Court to recover the overdue salary however, his employer refused to pay. Instead Ayub Abdullah Al Zunedi proceeded to make deductions from Gurwinder’s salary for alleged damage to the vehicle and continued to withhold his salary.

On the 9th of September, 2017 during the course of his employment and whilst driving his truck, Gurwinder’s truck was hit by a speeding car. The driver of the speeding car died on impact. Gurwinder maintains that he was driving at a speed of between 30-40 M.P.H and that the driver of the car was allegedly driving at a speed of between 160 and 180 M.P.H. This was backed up by the findings of the Police investigation into the collision.

The Police investigation disclosed that Gurwinder Singh was not insured to drive. Gurwinder claims that in Saudi Arabia it is the duty of the employer to insure the employees under the employment contract. Ayub Abdullah Al Zunedi refused to take responsibility; instead he made false accusations against Gurwinder and filed a malicious criminal complaint. The Saudi Police did not investigate Ayub Abdullah Al Zunedi for failing to provide Gurwinder Singh with insurance cover.

Gurwinder Singh was tried under Sharia Law and Ordered to pay 2 million and 44 thousand in Saudi Riyal in ‘blood money’ (that is Rs 42 Lakh (approximately £42,000 GB)) to the family of the deceased who have made it clear, that they will not accept anything less than the ‘blood money’ Ordered under Sharia Law. Unless this amount is paid to the satisfaction of the deceased’s family, Gurwinder Singh remains in prison custody.

Disappointingly, the Indian Embassy has failed to provide effective Consular excess and independent legal representation to Gurwinder Singh. He did not have legal represented before the Sharia Court and there were no submissions made on his behalf in relation to the facts that his ‘employer’ failed to insure him and that it was the deceased who caused the accident by driving at speed. It was the deceased who ploughed into the vehicle driven by Gurwinder Singh.

Gurwinder Singh in Saudia Arabia in 2018

Whilst in prison custody, Gurwinder Singh was ordered to remove his turban and his Kara (a steel bangle worn by Sikhs as part of their articles of faith and a manifestation of their identity) and his long hair was shorn off. Gurwinder Singh was informed that this was a requirement under Saudi prison rules. Whilst in prison custody, Gurwinder said that he and other non-Muslim prisoners are under pressure to convert to Islam by inmates and by Saudi officials working in the prison. All prisoners are served halal food which includes being served camel meat. The Sikh faith prohibits Sikhs eating halal food. Such religious sensitivities are ignored. This is a gross breach of the Human Rights of Sikhs and other minorities Imprisoned in Saudi Arabia. It is a violation of Gurwinder Singh’s right to practice his religion. Migrant workers appear to be deliberately targeted for discriminatory treatment and generally treated with indignation and with contempt. Persecution of minorities in Saudi Arabia is rife. These minority communities comprise mainly of migrant workers - in particular, migrant workers from South Asia. Crimes against them go unreported and unpunished.

Saudi Arabia was was appointed to head the UN’s Panel for Human Rights in September 2015.

Further reading:

UN appoints Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Human Rights Council

Modern Slavery - The ‘Kafala’ System




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http://www.justiceupheld.org.uk 29 Apr 2018 06:05:38 GMT Charities & non-profits
<![CDATA[ Release Taliban issue A ‘Fatwa’ Against A Sikh Man For Refusing to Shut Down A School! ]]> https://pressat.co.uk/releases/release-taliban-issue-a-fatwa-against-a-sikh-man-for-refusing-to-shut-down-a-school-5766ca21222a16df58fe6488c1834e0b/ https://pressat.co.uk/releases/release-taliban-issue-a-fatwa-against-a-sikh-man-for-refusing-to-shut-down-a-school-5766ca21222a16df58fe6488c1834e0b/ Saturday 10 February, 2018

Pakistani Sikh on the run from the Taliban

In 2004, 44 year old Harjit Singh (not his real name), a Pakistani national and a baptised Sikh man opened a Sikh faith school in a district of Peshawar in Pakistan for the children of his minority Sikh Community.

Shortly after the school was opened, a member of the Taliban in the region contacted Harjit Singh and ordered him to close down the School with immediate effect, failing which, Harjit Singh said that he was threatened with death. Harjit Singh recognised the threat to be real and immediate. The representative of the Taliban making the threat is known to the communities in the region.

Mr Harjit Singh refused to close the School. As a consequence, the Taliban issued a ‘fatwa’ against him with an order to kill him. The Taliban filed a formal complaint (‘First Investigation Report’ - ‘FIR’) against Harjit Singh with the local Police. The complaint was that Mr Singh had opened the Sikh School despite their objections . The Taliban have a powerful influence and presence in the region. The Taliban is above scrutiny in the region.Harjit Singh sought help from the local Sikh leaders who were unable to assist. Harjit Singh said that they do not have any power - they too live in fear of the Taliban.The school was forced to close in 2004. Harjit Singh together with his wife aged 39, and three children (aged 15, 13 and 11) fled their home in fear that the Taliban will continue to pursue them. Mrs Singh and their children stayed with her family, whilst Harjit Singh moved from city to city to find a job to support himself and his family.

Harjit Singh was unable to find a suitable job . Eventually, he did find casual employment, and on both occasions, his work colleagues found out that he was on the run from the Taliban. He had no choice but to leave his job. At one point, he was identified by a man from from his village who happened to be in the area where Mr Harjit Singh was staying at the time. Mr Harjit Singh maintains that this man proceeded to disclose his whereabouts to the Taliban.In April, 2017 Harjit Singh had no alternative but to flee Pakistan taking his wife and young children with him to a safe country where he has sought asylum. Mr Singh’s and his family’s application for asylum is waiting to be progressed.The family are extremely anxious about their future and concerned for the safety of their friends and family in Pakistan. Mr Harjit Singh said ‘The threat from the Taliban is real, I had no alternative but to ensure the safety and future of my children and my wife. Sikhs are a minority in Pakistan. We are forced to pay ‘jizya’ [historically a form of tax charged to non- Muslims living in an Islamic country].

Mr Harjit Singh said he ‘....Pakistan is his ancestral home however, he denied the right to practice his faith freely. Sikhs in Pakistan are forced to pay the jizya tax to practice their faith, even to access roads (they are required to pay arbitrary amounts of toll) We are oppressed in our own country’.Jas Uppal from ‘Justice Upheld’, a British Human Rights charity based in the U.K. who has been instructed by Mr Singh, said that ‘We view the treatment of Mr Harjit Singh and his family in Pakistan as being nothing short of oppression, discrimination and persecution of a minority. We understand that the Sikh population in Pakistan is currently less than 20,000. Prior to the Partition in 1947, the Sikh population combined with the minorities in Pakistan was 20% in the region. This has now been reduced to less than 1%. The Sikh population was not even recorded in the 2017 consensus in Pakistan’. The world is ignoring the suffering of Sikhs and other minorities in Pakistan at their peril which has emboldened the persecutors to continue with impunity’.The current Sikh population in Pakistan is less than 8,000 and dwindling. Prior to the Partition inn1947, the Sikh and Hindu population combined in the region before the creation of ‘Pakistan’ was 20%




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http://www.justiceupheld.org.uk 10 Feb 2018 13:53:21 GMT Charities & non-profits