KOCHI: Relatives of nurses who were recruited through Mathew International, a manpower agency owned by K J Mathew, staged a protest in front of the office here on Friday. Around 50 persons gathered in front of the office of Mathew International, alleging that their relatives did not get the promised job in Kuwait.
The recruitment agency had charged as much as Rs 19.5 lakh from the nurses, significantly higher than the stipulated fees of Rs 19,500, promising job in the Ministry of Health, Kuwait.
The protesters claimed that after reaching Kuwait the nurses realised that the visas issued to them were not for employment with the Ministry of Health. They were actually recruited to some small hospitals, with very low salaries.
“They are not even paid half of the promised salary. Though the agency had promised free accommodation, no such facility is being provided. Many of them were lured by the the high salary and other facilities promised by the agency, and had taken loan to travel to Kuwait. It is very difficult for them to survive in Kuwait on the salary they are getting,” said one of the protesters, whose wife was recruited by Mathew International.
The relatives also demanded that visas for job at the Ministry of Health be issued to the nurses. Some of them warned that they would file complaints with the police if the agency did not return the amount or provide new visa.
CBI registered case against K J Mathew. The ED and the IT have also launched probe against the agency.