Dubai: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced a six-month compensation package for Gulf returnees at a public function during his Dubai visit on Friday.
The CM said that the pension package would be framed in such a way that the government will pay one month's pension for every year completed in the Gulf. A job portal would be started to utilize the expertise of Gulf returnees, he added.
Pinarayi said that the state government will associate with the Center to bring out a law to protect job seekers from fraudulent companies and unscrupulous recruitment agents. The recruitment agents will be closely monitored to see if they are following the existing recruitment laws. The state government will grade the recruiting agencies and it will be published in the NORKA portal. There will be oriental session for job seekers before they leave Kerala. A booklet on guidelines to be followed in a foreign country will be published. The booklet will also contain the numbers of officials and organizations to be contacted in case of emergency.
A coordination mechanism will be put in place in the Gulf countries to ensure that contract terms are strictly followed by employers. A panel of lawyers would be formed for giving legal aid and direction to employees in each sector. The companies violating the norms would be blacklisted. The government will seek the coordination of vigilance department in this regard, he said. The government will initiate steps to ensure that accident victims are given quick treatment and in case of fatality, efforts will be taken to bring the body of the victim to Kerala at the earliest. The government will seek services of ambulance to transport the body from airport to the victim's house. The government will give aid to organizations which help in bringing the victim’s body to Kerala.
The government will start hostels for women employees and is thinking of starting shelter homes for those who lose jobs. The shelter homes will provide free food and treatment and services of doctors and nurses will be available at the center. The government will try to establish Kerala public schools in Gulf countries to make education affordable.