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Government rushing two senior ministers to Saudi Arabia

  •   Tue, Apr 02 2013 09:40:01 PM

New Delhi, Apr 2 (IANS): The Indian government proposes to send two senior ministers to Saudi Arabia to asses the impact of the new 'nitaqat' employment policy that is expected to affect thousands of Indians who are working in the kingdom without valid employment or visa documents.

Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi and Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahmed would soon head to Saudi Arabia, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid told a group of Urdu media journalists here Tuesday evening. The visit is timed with the return of Saudi Labour Minister Adel Fakieh, who is currently out of country.

The external affairs ministry is also in touch with the Saudi ambassador on this issue.

Khurshid said that Indian diplomats in Saudi Arabia have rushed to Damam province, where Saudi labour ministry officials have conducted raids to detect illegal workers. The Indian embassy in Riyadh has been directed to post additional staff in Damam to assist Indian workers who are being scrutinized by the local authorities.

The minister said there is no exodus of Indian workers from the Kingdom, adding that all possible help will be rendred to the Indians. He said the embassy would issue emergency exit certificates to those Indians who did not have travel documents.

Khurshid said the Indian government is in constant touch with the Saudi authorities on this sensitive issue. "We want the Saudi government to adopt a humanitarian approach so that workers are not punished or penalised."

The Saudi government says the 'nitaqat' system is meant to boost employment for locals in the private sector.

Around two million Indians are working in various capacities in Saudi Arabia. Under the new law, private companies are required to provide 10 percent jobs to locals. This will affect around 300,000 Indians, mainly from Kerala, who are enganged in semi-skilled jobs in the Kingdom.

The issue was raised by Kerala Chief Oomman Chandy with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Khurshid. Other ministers were also briefed about the new law's impact on Indian workers. The Kerala government fears an exodus of India from Saudi Arabia and apprehends this may create acute employment crisis in the state.
  

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Comment on this article

  • gerald, modankap

    Wed, Apr 03 2013

    this people rushed to SAUDI ARABIA to find employment for them !!! guys you have so many burning issues back home !!!

    DisAgree [3] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Brilliant, Karnataka

    Wed, Apr 03 2013

    Its after all their internal matter. KSA does not toleraste any foreign interference.

    Did our ministers go to america when they wanted to take out BPO jobs from india??

    It looks like TANTRI the MANTRI of Tinkle comics trying his best to topple the RAJA.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • CYRIL MASCARENHAS, KIREM/MIRA ROAD/BOMBAY

    Wed, Apr 03 2013

    SAUDI IS NOT INDIA.AND THEIR LAW IS NOT LIKE INDIAN LAW.THEY CAN BRING ANY LAWS TO THEIR COUNTRY.THEY ARE NOT DEPEND ON INDIA.NOW THESE TWO MINISTERS ENJOY STAY IN 5 STAR HOTEL AND COME BACK WITH EMPTY HAND...

    DisAgree Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Aadil Khan, Kasaragod, Saudi Arabia

    Wed, Apr 03 2013

    Indian ministers' visit to Saudi could hardly make any impact. What they would ask Saudis not to employ even 10% nationals in any Company.

    Free Visa, the Saudi guys bring people, procure Iqama (residence permit) and leave them to work anywhere in the kingdom. Only condition, he should be paid a predetermined amount on a monthly basis. So, the people do all sort of monkey businesses to make money and this trend indeed poses a country's national security. As any country, they dont want this menace to continue any more and this move now talked about is to send all these illegal workers back to their home.

    I wish the ministers could help our people, but my feelings that they can not do much in the case.

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Antonio D'Silva, Kuwait

    Wed, Apr 03 2013

    What we dont ask ourselves here is why on earth is Indian Government rushing its ministers to Saudi Arabia when it is a Saudi internal issue.

    There is certainly the nexus between our Indian Industrialists and the Indian Government???????

    First of all the Central, State Governments as well as the Industrialists are the main beneficiaries from the huge foreign currency remmitences by these poor semi-skilled workers toiling their life out in these Middle Eastern countries where they are paid meagre salaries I constantly speak with some of our semi skilled workforce and work out the comparison of salaries they receive in the Gulf v/s daily wages being paid in various Indian states. A lot of work back home suffers because We dont find enough semi skilled workers & the available semi skilled workforce is sometimes unaffordable.

    The Industrialist are the main culprits as they employ Bangladeshis and Nepalis for half the amount that they would pay to Indian workers of course not mentioning the social & cultural issues that come along with these unwelcome immigrants.

    Most of all, the illegal immigrants form the vote banks for our local MLAs, thats why these illegal immigrants enjoy more facilities than the local Indians ration card, gas card, expedited Adhar card, PAN card, they are even issued the great Indian Passport with such ease.

    And we Indians are reduced to the likes of the THREE INDIAN MONKEYS See no evil, Hear no evil, Do no evil.

    India is a "great" Country, an aspirant 'SUPER POWER' - We, Our Government should behave likewise -not run around touting our semi skilled workforce. We and Our Government is certainly not doing anything to improve work conditions at home the rich are becoming richer and the poor are being taxed in all directions much needs to be done to keep our semi-skilled workforce happy and at home. It is a disrespect to bring their dead bodies home through subsidized airfare.

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • jayant s, suratkal/riyadh

    Wed, Apr 03 2013

    Whatever Saudi Government 100% right. If our government is careful or taken care of us we would have not ended in this situation today. The Saudi government has given another 6 months to clear this mess. If Saudis do not get jobs then there will be Saudi spring which would be more volatile than any other Arab spring.

    DisAgree Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ramesh S, mangalore

    Wed, Apr 03 2013

    ..These buggers failed to create jobs in kerala, now flying to SAUDI to beg them to ammend their law??..we are not allowing interstate people to work or give cometitive exams in each others state(say Maharastra,Tamilnadu etc,.) but we are ready to questions other countries policies..why only (with few exceptions) keralites end up in Gulf countries..If suppose by 2050 oil wealth in Gulf countries diminishes will Kerala Govt not allow Keralites to enter Kerala?..Let our politicians fight to create opportunities to our youth, but we are busy in fighting elections all the year corporation,local bodies,Assembly,Parliament so on.. GOD only knows the future of GODs own country..

    DisAgree Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai

    Wed, Apr 03 2013

    One thing we have to appreciate Kerala Government that, if anything happens to Keralites, Kerala Government is in war foot to take up the issue first with Central Government

    DisAgree Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • stan, dubai

    Wed, Apr 03 2013

    AreWe got right to interfere in others rule? Some of them are telling that middle east is improved/developed because of our hard work. Please let me know if Bangali/Pakistani or our neighboring state people comes to our state stating that we will improve your state and take all the work and jobs will our people will keep mum? This is their country and they got first right to get job and stay . If we loose job we got place to stay i.e. we will come back to India and we will try to do something in our native place. If Saudi or any other country people don’t have anything to service in their own country what he will do. There will be a revolution , so concerned governments has to uplift their own people. India has to develop the system to create more Jobs to their people instead our leaders are busy with politics/corruption etc.

    DisAgree Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Kanta, udupi

    Wed, Apr 03 2013

    My question is if in INDIA anybody staying illegally we are allowing them ???

    DisAgree Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sunil , Mangalore / Mumbai

    Wed, Apr 03 2013

    I guess Saudi's would feel the same way we would feel , had if the Bangladesi or Nepali people entered India and took away our jobs for a cheap price.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [31] Reply Report Abuse

  • Indian, Mexico

    Wed, Apr 03 2013

    I think it is better these two ministers become Saudi Citizens .

    Understand there are Indians affected due to this policy but I fail to understand why they need to support Indians staying illegaly . The same approach is followed here where Bangladeshis being a vote bank get passport/ration card wheras Indians have to run from pillar to post.

    To take a pragmatic approach these two useless buffoons need to think of initiatives that will create jobs for these illegals staying in UAE.

    Travelling on our money and staying in 5 star doesnt do any good.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anthony Lobo, Mangalore/USA

    Wed, Apr 03 2013

    What Indian government has to do is check the companies/individuals who issue the visa for its citizens are genuine. Rest is useless and it is interfering with their business. I thought Oomen Chandy was educated and brilliant, but he came out foolish. Mr. Chandy when a Keralite goes to any Gulf country with a new visa, ask the Indian (Kerala) embassy to verify the visa and availability of that job for that particular visa, otherwise landing a person in a remote farm where he can not access anyone and suffer. This is the best thing you can do for the people. Instead of sending two MPs you can bring back maids out from the gulf embassies taking refuge.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • GERALD, MODANKAP

    Tue, Apr 02 2013

    the shameless govt should learn how to utilize the trained manpower from saudi for its own benefits rather sending useless ministers on expenses of tax payers money for nothing ! every country has a policy for their citizens but unfortunately we indians dont have and we are very busy with corruptions/gotala/rape/murder/cheating etc etc

    DisAgree [1] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • A. S. Mathew, U.S.A.

    Tue, Apr 02 2013

    As the world economy is marching through clouds and smoke, every country would be introducing strict
    economy policies to protect their interests and we can't blame them.
    The U.S. used to be the no 1 oil importing country in the world, consuming 25% of the world oil consumption. In addition to the oil states like Texas-Okalahoma-California etc, now from North
    Dakota-Ohio and Pennsylavania alone,
    1.5 million barrels of oil is producted every day. Now, China is the biggest importer of oil-U.S.A 2nd and Japan 3rd. In all these countries, the consumption of oil is slowing down, which will indirectly affect the massive construction booms in the oil producing countries of the gulf regions, so less expatriates would be needed.
    When the citizens of Saudi Arabia are not working, that will create more economic and domestic problems. The foreign money in India, especially in Kerala has simply created
    skyrocketing property value, but the state Goverment has not done
    anything noticeable in creating jobs, now they may be lamenting.

    DisAgree Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • AM DMello, Mumbai

    Tue, Apr 02 2013

    Can't understand why so much of hullabullah ! What the Saudi Govt doing is aimed at weeding
    out illegal workforce. Isn't it?

    DisAgree [1] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • ISMAIL.K.PERINJE, PERINJE-YANBU/KSA

    Tue, Apr 02 2013

    There are no influence or impact on any kind of delegation or Ministers from India or any Country.
    What is Nitaqat System?

    Govt of KSA introduced a measure after private sector enterprises completely failed to give employment to locals even after repeated appeal or by- law and other incentives for those employing LOCALS.

    Finally KSA introduced Nithaqat System which comprised THREE category of companies called
    1)Green category
    2)Yellow category
    3)RED category

    In these three categories
    GREEN....
    denominates SAUDIZATION as per Govt requirement
    YELLOW...
    Saudizaisation in progress but enough has to be done and time has given to cross over GREEN.
    RED......
    Saudization is not done and time has given to rectify the status.Asked employees to transfer any company which have Green Status with out asking Current employer who comes under Red Category.Again Govt warned that those company coming under RED category,their license will be not renewed and their employee's residence permit also not renewed.(to correct the status 6 months has been given)

    FREE VISA?
    There is such thing or Visa Called FREE!!It is system where individual Saudis bringing expats to work here with a monthly remuneration for Sponsor(SAUDI)In fact, SME (SMALL MEDIUM ENTERPRISES)had no Saudizaisation targets from Govt and they introduced that also (even smal SME must have @ least one local)
    So whatever Govt doing is for it's citizens and any external influence will not make differences or impact.This rules not targeted any particular country or region what SAUDI doing is appropriate for it's Citizen.Any RESIDENCE PERMIT violators will have to take responsibility for any unforeseen consequences.The govt also made strict that work with your sponsor only and no part time Job also.Expats and Companies had given enough time to rectify the status but failed to do so.Govt had no option other than implementation of it's cabinet decision.

    DisAgree [11] Agree [52] Reply Report Abuse


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