The government will act tough against unauthorised recruitment agencies, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has warned.
Inaugurating a seminar organised in connection with Videsh Sampark, a State outreach conference organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Government of Kerala here on Wednesday, he said jobseekers were often cheated by bogus agencies. The government, he said, would take stern action against such agencies found to be involved in illegal human trafficking.
Highlighting the need for Indian embassies to collect information about the diaspora, he said it would go a long way in ensuring the safety and security of non resident Indians. Mr.Vijayan said domestic workers of Indian origin could minimise the risk of exploitation if they went through the embassy for recruitment.
The Chief Minister urged the Centre to ensure that embassies were staffed by compassionate officials responsive to the needs of the diaspora. “At least some of the embassy officials in countries with a large number of Keralites should understand Malayalam,” he said.
Mr.Vijayan stressed the need for a better emigration law and registration of outbound travellers at airports. The State government, he said, was considering an informal mechanism to provide legal aid for needy non-resident Keralites.
He urged the Centre to address the problems faced by the Indian diaspora on account of the tightening of labour laws and racial discrimination in other countries.
Union Minister for External Affairs V.K.Singh, who delivered the keynote address, said the Centre would join hands with the State government to ensure the welfare and safety of Keralites abroad.
Principal Secretary, NoRKA, Viswanath Sinha and secretary, MEA, D.M.Mule also spoke.
