Hassan Cheruppa

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — A seminar and panel discussion on the status of expatriate workers held at Jeddah Golden Tulip Hotel Friday evening have turned into a brainstorming session, analyzing major problems facing foreign workers in the Gulf countries.

 

The discussions centered on major findings of a study, entitled “Status of returning Gulf emigrants of Kerala: A socioeconomic survey 2013,” conducted by the Kerala-based think tank Sign Human Resources Development & Research Center.



Speakers said expatriates have a strong feeling that they are being exploited on many counts and that India’s federal and state governments are more or less apathetic to most of their long-time demands.



Sign’s Chairman Panakkad Munawarali Shihab Thangal inaugurated the seminar at a function presided over by Muhammad Alungal, chairman and managing director of Al-Abeer Medical Group and Sign’s patron. Panakkad Abbasali Shihab Thangal, a religious leader, released the 106-page survey report by giving a copy to Alungal.



In his presidential address, Alungal explained that his group sponsored this great initiative with the hope that it will benefit the expatriate community to a great extent. Leaders representing a cross section of the Keralite community took part in a panel discussion that followed.



They underscored the need for joint efforts to identify and address major problems facing expatriates. They found fault with the absence of a comprehensive immigration law, saying India is still following the defective immigration law enacted during the British Raj.



Establishing a bank exclusively for expatriates is another suggestion raised by the leaders. There were suggestions for introducing health insurance for families of expatriates back home and conducting a survey focusing on low-income expatriates in the Gulf states.



Summing up the discussion, Munawarali Thangal said Sign will take initiative to address all the problems facing the expatriate community within its constraints as an NGO.



Those who participated in the discussions included K.P. Muhammed Kutty, chairman of Kerala’s Overseas Development and Employment Promotion Consultants (ODEPC) and president of the Saudi National Committee of the Kerala Muslim Cultural Center (KMCC); Prof. Reynolds of King Abdulaziz University; V.P. Muhammad Ali, managing director of Jeddah National Hospital; V.K.A. Rauf patron of Navodaya Forum; Abdul Majeed Naha, president of Jeddah Oversees Indian Cultural Congress; P.P. Raheem, general convenor of Jeddah Keralites Forum, Ahmed Palayatt, president of KMCC Jeddah Central Committee; Kunhavutty A. Qader, president of Indian Muslim Cultural Center, Saudi National Committee; and Sign’s Treasurer K.M. Abdullah. Sign’s Executive Director Rashid Gazzali was the moderator.



In his speech, Gazzali urged the government to create a comprehensive database of the Indian diaspora. “There should be a system to address all problems facing the expatriate community with a special emphasis on ensuring their welfare, creating facilities for proper investment, addressing financial difficulties and preventing moral degradation among the expatriate children. This should be done after working out a common approach with the participation of all segments of society,” he said.



Sign’s Vice Chairman Abdullah Darimi also spoke on the occasion. The seminar started with an introduction from Muhammad Imran, media manager of Al-Abeer Group. Program Coordinator Salah Karadan welcomed the gathering while Anas Parappil gave the vote of thanks.



Sign’s Vice Chairman Irfan Habeeb said the study was conducted by a 20-member research team among 1,200 families of those who have returned from the Gulf countries to Kerala.



“Of the total 1.2 million Keralite workers who have returned from the Gulf, 67 percent were from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Muslims constitute 72 percent of unskilled workers while Christians represent the highest percentage of skilled workers,” he said.



According to the survey, 59 percent of returnees did not complete their secondary education and Muslims make up 40 percent of those having education below secondary level.



About 27 percent of returnees are suffering from various diseases. Major reasons for their return included low wages, diseases, heavy workload and visa-related problems. Though 80 percent of the returnees do not want to go back, some 60 percent of them saw their life in the Gulf as good while 14 percent of them said they were fully satisfied.



More than 36 percent of those who have returned are still struggling to make ends meet. Those who spent in the Gulf short period of time and had short working hours were highly qualified people.



Among the push factors, financial liabilities forced 38.7 percent to go to the Gulf. It was also revealed in the survey that 86 percent of immigrants from Malabar (the northern districts of Kerala) were not fully aware of the rules and regulations in the host countries.