Thiruvananthapuram—The Kerala government Thursday decided to help migrants returning from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, following the tightening of labour laws there, by arranging alternate jobs or self-employment schemes for them, said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

“We had a detailed presentation by the Non-Resident Keralite Affairs (Norka) department on the various self-employment projects that these returning migrants can take up,” said Chandy told media persons here after a special cabinet meeting.

“Norka will next week give the complete details of the self employment schemes that these return migrants can take up. I will also meet up with the commercial banks representatives to see what sort of assistance they can provide for these projects,” he added.

He also said that he is going to call a meeting of the rich and influential businessmen who hail from Kerala but doing business in Middle East to see if they can provide employment to those people who return from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Chandy noted that there was speculation that a huge number of people would return from Saudi Arabia, “but now that appears not to be true because not many Keralites have registered with Indian Embassy there”.

He thanked the Saudi authorities for “kindly agreeing to India’s requests.

“They have agreed that they will have no objection if those who are asked to leave return with proper documents and they (the migrants) are free to seek employment in other Middle East countries,” added Chandy.

He said the situation in Kuwait is such that even those with valid documents are sent back.

“We will again ask the Indian government to make a similar effort – as they did in Saudi Arabia – with authorities in Kuwait, so that they take a lenient step,” said Chandy.—IANS