The Nitaqat law, as part of the 'Saudi-ization policy', ensures crackdown against all undocumented workers
The exodus of migrant workers from Saudi Arabia continues, with nearly 100 people returning to Kerala on a daily basis since November 3, when the deadline for the end of the grace period for implementation of Nitaqat law in the Gulf country ended.
The new law, as part of the 'Saudi-ization policy', ensures crackdown against all undocumented workers.
The new law has affected many Indians. Rajesh, who has a family of five depending upon him, had no option but to return. Rajesh, who worked at a welding workshop in Riyadh, discovered that under the new law, his work permit was specified for a job of a different nature.
Government officials say the exodus from Saudi to India could have been worse, but nearly 14 lakh Indians utilised the grace period till November 3 to regularise their visas.
States like Kerala, which received nearly Rs 65,000 crore in 2012-13 in remittances from Saudi are now providing support to the migrant workers with rehabilitation packages like zero-per cent interest schemes and pursuing oversees Malayali employees to offer jobs to the migrants who have returned.
The CEO of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA), Sudeep, told NDTV that the state government has entered into a memorandum with Canara bank to ensure that loans up to a maximum of Rs 20,00,000 can be provided to the labourers returning from Saudi Arabia to help them start small businesses or taxi services.
As on November 14, 83 Malayalis had registered their names with NORKA as returnees. Sources with the government, however, maintain that the return of migrant workers will not affect remittances drastically as majority of the returnees are labourers. Most of the Indian professionals are continuing there.
Officials say that the Kerala government is planning to charter a plane on November 20 to help any stranded migrant worker willing to return.