Kerala Government has finalised a rehabilitation package for Keralites who return from Saudi Arabia following the implementation of Nitaqat Labour Law in that country, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today.
The general pardon period announced by Saudi Arabia will expire on November 1 and government has taken several steps, including arrangements to bring back the expatriates who have to return, he told reporters during the briefing on Cabinet meeting.
Chandy said a number of Keralites had been able to regularise their documents during the grace period. Still, some would have to return. The new labour policy Nitaqat was part of that country's steps to expand job avenues for its nationals.
Under the new policy, 10 per cent of jobs even in small and medium business establishments should be reserved for Saudi nationals.
State Minister for Culture and NRK, K C Joseph said since April last about 13,000 people had returned from Saudi Arabia.
Releasing Kerala emigrant survey report, Joseph said state had set up three advisory committees one each at Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to help Keralites whose documents were not yet ready and want to return.
As per the survey report, a total of 16,25,653 emigrants from Kerala are in foreign countries and out of this 88 per cent nearly 14,26,740 were in Gulf countries. A total of 50 lakh people in Kerala depend on diaspora, the report said.
The survey conducted by the state government said there are 16,25,653 non-resident Keralites (NRKs) of whom 14,26,853 are working, which include 13,25,527 males and 99,326 women.
About 4,50,229 are in Saudi Arabia, 78,357 in United States, 52,887 in Europe, 9,629 in Canada and 6,863 in African countries.
The Muslim-dominated Malappuram district has the maximum number of NRK's about 2,92,753 and least number is from Idukki District nearly 14,575, the report said.
Out of the women work force in foreign countries, 58,559 are working as nurses. Kottayam district has maximum number of 22,500 women working in foreign countries while Kasargod has the least number of about 1200, the report said.
