After ending the deadline of Nitaqat, a mandatory newly introduced
localization policy of Saudi Arabian native in employment of major
enterprises between 5% to 30% in place of migrants, looms the fear for
the fate of thousands of NRIs who are working there for several years.
Initiative for saudaziation of employment has been taken by ministry of
labor on precautionary basis to reduce the local unemployment as the
major reason behind uprising in most of Arab countries was the growing
number of local jobless youth people. On the side of Indian labor
market, this policy would have its own reciprocation mainly in southern
states where large numbers of Indians are working in Saudi Arabia and
other Arab countries. Strict enforcement of Nitaqat would vanish the
semi-skilled and unskilled Indian worker opportunities and will
adversely affect career prospective of white-collar workers,
specifically in private unorganized sector. In absence of governmental
safeguard measures, such policy could become a tool of more harassment
for Indian nationals who already have been suffered with depression and
frustration there. Increasing number of suicide cases and detention of
Indian nationals in last several years indicate the miserable situation
of expatriates in Gulf. Keeping such apprehension into consideration,
Indian central as well as states government officials have communicated
their concerns to Saudi officials. Saudi ministry assures that any cases
in against to Nitaqat would be dealt fairly and full time would be
given to expatriate to rectify its visa and working status.
India has the historical bilateral cultural and commercial relations
with the Saudi Arabia which are further strengthened during the oil boom
of mid-seventies. Exploration of oil and its increasing demand led to a
considerable growth in the Saudi Arabian economy due to high revenues
of oil. As a result, programs for infrastructure development including
construction of roads, creation of amenities like schools, hospitals,
houses, airports, office and commercial complexes etc., were taken up in
a big way. Higher national income with better infrastructure improves
the living standard that increases the requirement of health, education
and other services. This resulted in a spurt in demand for not only
highly skilled technical and professional experts but also semi-skilled
and unskilled workers. India due to its trained and highly qualified
manpower was well placed to meet these emerging demands. In spite of
Saudization trend in employment from last years, number of Indian
workers have increased manifold. Presently, Kingdom is the single
largest country to have the highest number of Indian citizens in a
foreign country while Indians are the largest expatriate community in
Saudi Arabia. It is being estimated that 14 Million NRIs reside in Saudi
Arabia and outflowing the highest remittance around 7621 million US$
with 31% share in overall outflow of Saudi Arabia as per the estimate
2011. Saudi remittance share in overall Indian remittance are around 13%
in the year 2011. Besides Saudi Arabia, major remittance inflowing
countries to India are UAE, USA and UK. Middle East is specifically an
attractive destination for semi skilled workers. Evacuation of Indian
worker will create an unmanageable vacuum in Saudi economy especially in
the services sector and blue-color jobs. Further, companies have to
pay the higher remuneration to Saudi nationals in compare to Indian
worker who works there in lesser salary without other social benefits.
Remittance of course is a resilient external source for India which
directly supports the migrants’ families and also contributes in our
national income. Further, Labor outflow decrease the pressure of
workforce in domestic market for new opportunities and the wage rates in
foreign countries are several times high to prevailing wages in India.
Seeming importance of remittance flowing from Saudi Arabia, Indian
government is trying to persuade the Saudi government to soften their
stands on Indian worker in view of Nitaqat or at least defer the
implementation for a longer time so that Indian worker could search the
alternative jobs. Anticipatory measure in case of immediate deportation
is also under consideration by ministry like special flights for
evacuation with free ticket options. Being a sovereign country, Saudi
Arabia has the full right to formulate its own residency and working
policy in keeping the interest of its citizen. External government
cannot interfere the internal matter of a country beyond certain
limitations, important task for Indian government to perform is
rehabilitation of these retrenched people so that they can restart the
life with full dignity.
But the most important question is still unresolved to investigate the
reason behind Indian worker migration, which is the attraction of higher
earnings. To get the quick amount for fulfillment of basic needs of
dependent family, they prefer to work abroad unwillingly instead of
working at home. Most of our work populations are poor, reside in rural
areas and mainly confine to unorganized sectors without getting any
social and job securities, whereas work opportunities are concentrated
to selected metropolitan cities. Migration at national level to metro
cities is not a solution, prevailing wages are not so competent for
unskilled and semi skilled workers in compare to Gulf or other developed
countries. Behind the Brain drain of Indian professional, pay scale and
remuneration is the key factor. Further, regional controversies within
Indian state are main hurdle to migrate the people within country like
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar workers are not acceptable in Mumbai for a
segment of population. Domicile policy in state government jobs
allocation also reflects the protectionist thinking in worker movement
within country. Instead of persuading the Saudi or any foreign nation,
focus should be to organize the domestic labor market and to create the
new opportunities across the country. Government flagship programs like
MGNREGA should be initiated in broader terms to provide the employment
opportunities in nearby areas in accord to their skills so that
dependency on other countries for overseas jobs could be restricted up
to the minimal level.
Published in Muslimmirror on 14th April 2013
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