The Hindu : Registration of Gulf-bound Malayalis mooted

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Registration of Gulf-bound Malayalis mooted

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM APRIL 29. The Government was contemplating a registration system for workers going to the Gulf countries for jobs, the Minister for Information and Non-Resident Keralites Affairs, M. M. Hassan, said here on Tuesday.

The Government would also take up with the Centre a proposal for giving a legal role to the Indian Embassies in the Gulf regarding labour contracts, the Minister, who returned from a 10-day tour to the Gulf, said.

Countries such as Sri Lanka and Philippines had a registration system for workers going abroad. Now, contracts were being handled by private agencies.

Mr. Hassan said that he had met the Omani Minister for Labour and Manpower, Juma bin Ali Al Juma, and the Omani Minister had promised to set up a mechanism for settlement of labour claims outside the courts.

In United Arab Emirates, he had called on the Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research, Sheik Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, who expressed interest in associating with Kerala in the field of education.

Mr. Hassan said that he had taken up with the Ministers in Qatar the issue of visa restrictions affecting Indians. They had agreed to look into various problems.

He also had discussions with the management of Towel Barwill Company of Muscat, which had signed a memorandum of understanding with the State Government at the Global Investors Meet, on starting a shipping service to Kerala from the Gulf.

He also met leaders of Malayali associations in the seven Emirates and visited labour camps there.

Many Keralites had complained to him about the high airfares charged by the Air-India. The Government proposed to take up this and the issue of airfares strongly with the Centre.

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Registration of Gulf-bound Malayalis mooted