48 Nurses From Kerala Lose Jobs Due To ‘Omanisation’

Amid concerns over hundreds of Indian nurses in the Sultanate of Oman losing their jobs, the first batch of Keralite nurses lost their jobs will start returning by August 10, 2016.

Official sources said 48 nurses from Kerala are among the 76 nurses who have been served termination notices at government hospitals.

Many nurses have been asked to leave the country even before the notice period ends. Jasminsha, state president of the United Nurses Association (UNA), said the move was triggered by Omanisation, a drive to replace expatriates with Omani nationals in jobs. Most of the nurses have taken personal loans and won’t be able to leave the country without settling them.

“These nurses are experienced professionals but they all have huge financial liabilities. Right now, their families are trying to arrange the funds for them to settle the dues,” Jasminsha told DH. Meanwhile, some of the nurses are learnt to be trying for jobs in private hospitals after obtaining mandatory clearances.

The UNA president said more details on the mass termination are awaited. “Interestingly, while Omanisation is cited as one of the reasons for terminating services of these nurses, more nursing job interviews are also being scheduled here,” he said. Curbs on nursing recruitment to the Gulf countries have also led to more opportunities for nursing professionals from other countries. Sources said the 76 nurses terminated from service include other nationals. “Since the restrictions came in place in 2015, the number of nurses moving out of the country has seen a huge drop,” Jasminsha said.

Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said that about 300 Keralites were rendered jobless as part of the ongoing termination of employment by companies in Saudi Arabia. 

The figure is less than what the chief minister had revealed on Monday. “We are told that the figure is less than 700, as was announced earlier. There are less than 300 workers from Kerala (housed in the labour camps) and efforts are being taken to bring them back,” Vijayan told reporters here. The Non-Resident Keralite Affairs (NORKA) department is coordinating rehabilitation efforts with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Malayali associations based in Saudi Arabia.

According to MEA, 7,700 workers formerly employed with four companies, including construction and engineering sector conglomerate Saudi Oger, have been housed in 20 labour camps. Many Keralites are reportedly stuck in camps with their iqamas (residence permits) expired and the ill among them without access to medical care. The workers have not been paid salaries for seven months and many are staying back to collect their salaries.