Retrenched workers in UAE on the streets, need help, Kerala MLA

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 2, 2016: Reports state that at a media gathering here on Aug 1, Monday,   Vengara (Kerala) MLA P K Kunhalikutty urged the Union government to make serious and immediate efforts towards bringing back construction workers who are stranded in United Arab Emirates back to India.

He said around 10,000 Indian workers have been sacked by just one single company following recession in that country. All these workers are literally on the streets, without proper food and shelter. There is also a fear of spread of contagious diseases due to pollution.The maximum number of workers are from north India. It is estimated that about 2,000 people are from Karnataka and Kerala. There are 250 such companies which are facing threat of closure, he added.

The MLA said most of them belong to construction industries. Around 1,000 people from Kerala have also lost jobs. Their safe return is possible only through the intervention of the Union government. Also, it is necessary to provide rehabilitation facilities to these workers, he stated.

MLA Kunhalikutty said there is no progress in relief measures though a Union minister has reached UAE. The victims must be provided suitable compensation, he demanded. The Kerala government has set up a helpline, he said and requested other states to set up helplines. He said that he has spoken to Karnataka chief minister in this regard.