Chief Minister V. Narayansamy on Tuesday said the External Affairs Ministry has promised to take up with Gulf countries and Malaysia the harassment faced by workers from Karaikal region.
Speaking to The Hindu from New Delhi after attending a meeting convened by the Union External Affairs Ministry to discuss immigration-related issues, Mr. Narayanasamy said he had taken up with Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj the harassment faced by workers in Gulf and Malaysia
The territorial administration had received complaints from family members that their relatives are being ill-treated in overseas work places. One person from Karaikal has been in a Qatar jail, he said.
Ms. Swaraj has promised to send inputs for the territorial administration to frame an immigration policy so that recruitment agencies could be made accountable for overseas recruitment, he said.
The Chief Minister also took up with the Ministry the impounding of fishing vessels by Sri Lankan authorities. The Sri Lankan Navy had jailed 6 persons from Kariakal and impounded their vessels.
Mr. Narayanasamy said his government was trying for the early release of fishermen.
He said the meeting was convened for establishing better coordination between the Ministry and States on immigration related matters.
Mr. Narayanasamy also met Union Minister for Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises Kalraj Mishra and discussed with him projects related his ministry.
The Ministry had sanctioned a sum of ₹125 crore to take up skill development programmes under the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF), he said.
The NSQF is a competency-based framework that organises all qualifications based on the level of knowledge, skills and aptitude
Mr. Narayanasamy said he had invited Mr. Mishra for laying the foundation for setting up an Innovation Hub at Lawspet. The hub would be constructed at a cost of ₹125 crore, he added.