Stuck Abroad Due to Visa Expiry: Should the Employee or Company Pay the Fine?

An employee from our company was sent to Saudi Arabia, and his visa has expired over there. Since the visa is in Arabic, he couldn't understand the expiry date. He submitted his visa 7 days after expiry, and now it's been more than 3 months of overstaying there.

Our company had sent him over there on a non-work visa, and now the company is asking the employee to pay a fine of rupees 1 Lakh to come to India. No mail regarding the reminder of visa expiry was sent to him, and he had no idea about the visa expiry.

The employee submitted the visa 2 months back, and still, it's not been renewed, and the company made him work over there, risking his life. Now, when he wants to come back to India, the company is asking for a fine of Rs 1 lakh from him. The company made him work, telling him nothing to worry about. Now, when the project is delivered, they are asking him to pay a fine to come back to India.

What can be done in such a case? Who should be paying the fine, the employee or our company?

As far as I know, the company has cheated the employee, and it's too dangerous to remain in Saudi without a visa. Their laws are too strict, and they can impose severe punishments. It would be better to advise your friend to come to India by paying one lakh rupees. Once he arrives in India, he can gather a group of people and take action against the company's HR and Manager, demanding compensation. However, the priority should be for him to leave Saudi Arabia first due to its strict laws. Once he is in India, everything can be managed because India is India, and Saudi is Saudi.

Don't worry, these things are common in the Middle East, especially in Saudi Arabia. Take your friend out of KSA immediately at any cost. Track the whereabouts of the management people (Target Personnel and HR people; they are behind such activities) of that company, as well as the agent/consultant who provides the visa in India. Be bold. Give quotations to third parties to complete the mission.

Well, the primary responsibility of paying fines for the employee is, of course, with you since he is merely an agent of yours sent to work over there.

Now, if you don't pay, the person who is working in Saudi may be punished by the Saudi courts simply for violation of local immigration laws.

A natural question will arise: why should you pay and not the company under whom he was working there? I agree if such a question arises with you. It is the company that is in charge of managing the visa for him. However, remember they are in a more advantageous position.

So, in my opinion, you should pay the difference and get the person out of the foreign country, then file a complaint with the Indian Office and also file a criminal complaint there.

DEKHNA PANT KHUL JAYEGA!!!

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