Setting aside their political differences, the Congress-led UDF Government and LDF Opposition headed by the CPI(M) in Kerala today expressed serious concern over the large-scale deportation of expatriate workers from Kuwait and asked the Centre to intervene in the matter.
Replying to an adjournment motion notice by the LDF in the Assembly, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the situation in Kuwait, arising out of its policy of indigenisation of the labour sector, was far more serious than what had happened in Saudi Arabia.
“When Saudi Arabia initiated a similar policy, the Government intervened effectively and the Gulf State had given the affected workers time till July 3 to fly back home without any hassles. We expect a similar intervention by the Centre in Kuwait also,” Chandy said.
It was illegal migrants who faced problems in Saudi Arabia but in Kuwait even those having valid visas were facing deportation, he said.
The State Government was in touch with the Overseas Indian Affairs and the External Affairs Ministries and expects the issue would be taken up through diplomatic channels.
Expressing similar sentiments, State Minister for Non-Resident Keralites K. C. Jospeh said what Kerala wanted was a “Saudi model” resolution to the problem in Kuwait.
Earlier, seeking leave for an adjournment, K. V. Abdul Khadar (CPI-M), said a number of Indian workers, especially Keralites, were living in anxiety in Kuwait as there had been frequent raids on workers’ camps to detect and deport emigrants.
Though the Centre had a separate Ministry to look after the welfare of NRIs, no effective steps had been taken to ensure that Indian workers in Kuwait did not face any harassment, he said.
Winding up his reply, the Chief Minister said the Government was willing to hold a comprehensive discussion on the fallout of indigenisation on Keralite workers in the Gulf during the current session itself.