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Nitaqat Impact: Two ministers to assess
situation in Saudi Arabia
Wednesday April 03, 2013 08:15:35 AM,
Sheikh Manzoor, IANS
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New Delhi: 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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