By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Coimbatore: The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has urged the Union Government to immediately intervene diplomatically to help Indians working in Saudi Arabia whose jobs are at stake following new labour policy of the kingdom.
A resolution titled “Intervene urgently to prevent NRI Crisis” about the above subject was among the seven resolutions which were passed by SDPI in its two-day National Representative Council (NRC, meeting which concluded here at Coimbatore in the Ayesha Mahal campus on Sunday.
The NRC of SDPI resolves that the Government of India should intervene without any further delay to solve the issue diplomatically by sending a team of Ministers to Saudi Arabia for concrete discussions. It is also resolved that both central and respective state governments should provide free financial aid for rehabilitating the returnees.
A. Sayeed, the newly elected national president of SDPI.
The resolution on NRI crisis said that lakhs of Indians are working all over the world and their contribution to the economy of India by flowing foreign currency have been helpful for the growth of the nation.
One of the major reasons for loss of employment is Saudi government’s refusal to grant permission for change of visa to the sponsor under whom they actually work. This is only technical while many gulf countries allow it. Government of India has not yet taken strong and constructive steps at the diplomatic level to solve the crisis. As a result lakh of Indians are compelled to return with their unfinished dreams.
It may be mentioned here that nearly two million people from outside Saudi Arabia working in that country stand to lose their jobs, among them thousands of people are from Kerala. Under a new labour policy, called Nitaqat (naturalisation) programme, all firms employing more than 10 people are required to recruit a minimum number of Saudi nations. Firms have been colour-coded on the basis of their compliance with the new law, and strict action has been announced against violators.
The current situation has also created panic among those who are from Kerala. According to 2011 statistics, at least 570,000 Keralites are working in Saudi Arabia. Nearly 150,000 Keralites are going to be affected. In the wake of the Arab Spring, Saudi authorities, concerned that the large army of unemployed young people could foment internal revolt, introduced changes in labour policy to ensure jobs for Saudi nationals.
SDPI also passed resolutions against the genocide of Sri Lankan Tamil Civilians, demanded land reforms, Muslim reservations and for the enactment of the prevention of communal violence bill.