Kerala seeks relaxation in emigration clearance

Demands nurses who had cleared job interviews before May 30 should be exempted from emigration clearance

Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy today urged External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to exempt nurses who had cleared job interviews before May 30 from emigration clearance.

The chief minister noted the External Affairs minister that she had agreed to this demand earlier, when it was raised by Kerala NRK Minister KC Joseph during a meeting with her.

The Union government, while accepting the request, had announced that nurses who had been selected through a transparent process would be exempted from emigration clearance.

Meanwhile, Chandy welcomed the steps initiated by the Centre to check frauds in the recruitment of nurses.

But for their effective implementation, he said the Indian embassies in 18 countries, where the emigration clearance had been made mandatory, should take necessary steps in discussion with the respective government and private sector employers.

So far no steps had been taken in this direction by the respective embassies, except in Kuwait.

This has led to a situation where Indians cannot go for jobs in 18 countries after May 30, Chandy said. Indians would loose job opportunities in these countries if the Centre does not take a prompt action, he added.