kochi: Kerala Minister for Diaspora K C Joseph will visit Saudi Arabia and Kuwait this week to monitor arrangements for the smooth transfer of Keralites who have to leave these countries due to their new labour laws.
An official at the minister’s office said that Joseph will be in Saudi Arabia on June 7 and 8 and in Kuwait on June 9. He will discuss with Indian embassy officials steps to be taken to send back Keralites who will be forced to return after the Saudi and Kuwaiti authorities decided to enact new labour laws.
“The official amnesty period ends this month in Saudi Arabia,” the official said.
A sudden tightening of labour laws in Kuwait appears to have landed Indians in trouble, according to a few Keralites who landed in Delhi last week.
“Twelve Keralites landed, of which four have gone their way and the rest are staying in Kerala House in Delhi. We have asked officials to arrange for them to go to Kerala and have given them some money,” Joseph said.
He said the Indian embassy in Kuwait also did not have details of their deportation.
“We have asked officials to find out if there are any Keralites in jail in Kuwait and submit a report,” added Joseph.
Meanwhile, an official of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s office said: “We have been told that there has been a tightening of labour laws. Those who do not have valid documents and even traffic violators are jailed.”
IANS
