THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Qatar will empanel Overseas Development and Employment Promotion Consultants (ODEPC) as a recognised agency to recruit personnel to public and private sectors, Qatar’s Labour Minister Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi has said.
He made the assurance at a meeting with state’s Labour Minister T P Ramakrishnan. Steps to recognise ODEPC will be taken at the department’s working group meeting in August.
Ramakrishnan briefed the Qatar minister about ODEPC and the Naipunya skill development programme in
Kerala to train professionals. Dr Nuaimi recalled that Qatar had a long history of cooperation with India, especially Kerala. He said the manners and skills of Keralites were excellent.
The Qatar minister said more recruitment will be made to the posts of nurses, paramedical staff and also for the construction sector. He briefed the minister about the different steps taken for labourer welfare. The Qatar minister also said steps will be taken to curb unhealthy practices in the recruitment sector.
Ramakrishnan visited the Labour Relation Department office and interacted with different committees for resolving labour disputes.
Indian Ambassador to Qatar Periyaswami Kumaran and ODEPC managing director Sriram Venkataraman accompanied the minister.
In a meeting with the business community in Qatar, Ramakrishnan said Kerala had become an investment-friendly state. He welcomed investors to the state.
The minister also attended a meeting of non-resident Keralite community. He elaborated the different welfare measures taken by the government for the NRKs. He exhorted all to joint he KSFE’s Pravasi Chitty scheme.