Concerned over possible job loss to Indians in Saudi Arabia due to a new labour law, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi today asked nine states to prepare a rehabilitation programme so that those return to the country from the Gulf nation get employment.
"Nine states, which are having a large number of people in Saudi Arabia, have been called to a meeting today. The states have been told to plan the rehabilitation of the people who may come back," Ravi said after the meeting.
Nine states which participated in the meeting were, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Karnatka, Bihar, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
The 'Nitaqat' law makes it mandatory for local companies to hire one Saudi national for every 10 migrant workers. There has been widespread perception that the new policy will lead to denial of job opportunities for a large number of Indians working there.
Over two million Indians are currently working in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government was implementing the Nitaqat law to cut unemployment in the country.
Ravi said over 3,500 Indian workers have approached the Embassy in Riyadh seeking issuance of Out Pass (Emergency Certificate) to leave the country as they had given their passports to the sponsors.