Indian nurse diagnosed for coronavirus doesn’t have Wuhan strain: Consulate

The coronavirus strain that emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei province has so far infected over 830 people.

An Indian nurse working in Saudi Arabia has tested positive for coronavirus, but with a different strain from the one that has claimed 18 lives in China, the Indian Consulate in Jeddah said on Thursday.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs V Muraleedharan, before that statement, had said an Indian nurse working at Al-Hayat hospital in Saudi Arabia was tested positive for coronavirus. “Update from @CGIJeddah: About 100 Indian nurses mostly from Kerala working at Al-Hayat hospital have been tested and none except one nurse was found infected by Corona virus. Affected nurse is being treated at Aseer National Hospital and is recovering well,” he said on Twitter.

Muraleedharan said he spoke to the Indian Consulate in Jeddah after the Indian nurses were quarantined at the hospital due to the coronavirus threat. Responding to his tweet, the Indian Consulate in Jeddah clarified that the nurse found positive for coronavirus was suffering for MERS-CoV and not 2019-NCoV (Wuhan). “Dr Tarik Al Azraqi, Chairman, Scientific Regional Infection Control Committee, Aseer Region, has confirmed that d Indian Nurse being treated at Aseer National Hospital is suffering from MERS-CoV & not 2019-NCoV (Wuhan). We request everyone to refrain from sharing incorrect info,” it said in the tweet.

Saudi to impose family tax: What it means to 41 lakh Indians & their family

Indians form Saudi Arabia's largest expat group

economy news|Saudi Arabia has always been a popular destination for job seekers. However, starting next month, things are about to change for the worse for expats. From July, Saudi will be collecting a new tax from expats and their dependents. The 'dependent fee' will be 100 Saudi riyals (approx. Rs 1,723, as on Wednesday) per month for each dependent. The amount is expected to increase gradually every year until 2020.

According to TOI, several Indians employed in Saudi Arabia are planning to send their dependents back to India as it is likely to prove a big financial burden for them.

Indians form Saudi Arabia's largest expat group and hence, will be most affected. Reportedly, 41 lakh Indians are currently working in the Kingdom.

Will this help Saudi as it struggles with financial crisis

Expat levy is seen to boost kingdom's revenues amid low oil prices. However, according to Gulf News, "reforms such as the levy on foreign workers may help augment government revenues, but they can increase the cost of doing business in the kingdom."

Companies in Saudi Arabia currently spend 200 Saudi riyals per month to cover the levy for every non-Saudi employee. This applies to organisations where foreigners exceed the number of local workers.|latest economy news

Migrant rights activist Bheem Reddy Mandha said several people had already sent their families back in the past four months. "The men have become forced bachelors," he told TOI.

Saudi - a no income tax

According to iExpats.com, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is urging the Gulf states to introduce more taxes to soften the impact of falling government revenues as the price of oil drops, leaving a black hole in budgets.

"Saudi Arabia has one of the most liberal labour policies globally, with very few restrictions on importing foreign labour to work in the kingdom,” says the government.

"Currently, neither Saudi nationals nor foreign labourers pay income taxes, and this policy will remain in place.”

Why is the Kingdom of Saudi so popular for Indian job seekers?

The kingdom is home to largest Indian passport holders outside India with around 41 lakh Indians working there and over 400 Indian companies. It is attractive because so far Saudi has not imposed any tax on income earned.

Saudi law provides full protection to all expatriates, which includes a unified labour contract and provisions that prohibit employing persons in jobs different from the profession stated in the contract, said Saudi Ambassador Saud Al Sati.

In an interview to TOI, he said, rules prevent workers from being made to work longer than five hours at a stretch. Whenever Saudi authorities are provided with valid information, detailed investigations ensue, and violators face action."