O J’s Corner

Let workers remain in the Gulf


Keralites are essentially thriving not in their State but abroad. In the seventies, the NRI concentration started growing in the Gulf countries, which in the nineties reached the figure of approximately 1.8 million. But there was a trickle back in the late nineties onwards. Still the present figure of Keralites living in the Gulf countries, and most of them working, as skilled hands or unskilled ones, could be anything not less than 1.5 million. All those present there may not be working. Some are there because their spouses work in various countries in the region.

Meanwhile, a lot of Malayalis have found a toe-hold in the US, UK , European countries and elsewhere. Generally, the financial position of Indians in the US, UK etc is strong. Their earning capacity is also better than the natives on an average. That is because those who fetched visas are mostly skilled hands. Particularly noteworthy is the contribution made by nurses in the health sector of the US and the UK. They make decent salaries. Their spouses also find some sort of livelihood, even if some of them are unskilled.

The unskilled workers living in the Gulf countries are facing a serious problem. The employment tenure of unskilled workers are being limited to six years. They would be given work visas initially for a period of three years. They may get another extension for three years. Afterwards they would have to pack up and return. This has been a proposal mooted by Bahrain. The suggestion has been churning in the discussion mills. It seems the Gulf Co-operation Council, comprising Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, which are the major players in the Gulf sector regarding employment potential, is discussing the idea in the ensuing conference. Gulf Co-operation Council, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries etc are powerful fora, which determine various policies for the countries concerned. GCC has been working streadfastly for more than two decades for a communion of the Gulf countries in matters of common interest. Their decision, if any being made, would adversely affect the unskilled workers.

There had been fears that the Gulf job market would pop off like a bubble. Still, the dream of thousands of youth to find some employment there has not been shattered. The remuneration scales may have come down. But the growing rates of petroleum price, the strong world economy and globalisation benefits have infused money into the construction sector. The spiraling beneficial effects have contributed to thriving marketing the consumer sector like electronics, digital gadgets, textiles and what not. A lot of our youth are employed in these areas.

Electricians, welders, fitters are generally reckoned to be in the skilled category. But it is not sure whether they would be reckoned as skilled hands. Moreover, there are various types of helpers in all fields, as also those working in shops, super-markets, textile vends and the like. The number would be in lakhs. They are not making much money. They have hardly any savings. Their remittances back to Kerala enable the survival of lakhs of family members.

If they lose their livelihood, many times their number in their families would have nothing to pull on. It would put them in a zero-option situation. India may be growing in economic percentage figures. Kerala may be pulling on, but if the Gulf-employed return en masse, it would challenge the subsistence capacity of lakhs of people.

The Central and State Governments should pursue the issue with all sincerity and persuade the GCC members not to go ahead with the devastating proposal. It is not wise for them to draw in entirely raw hands on a massive scale, dispensing with the services of time-tested and experienced workers.