January 9 is Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
 
COVID-19 ups demand for healthcare workers, says NORKA CEO
 
NORKA data reveal that out of the 8.6 lakh who returned to Kerala from foreign countries, 5.6 lakh have cited job loss
 
Rejimon Kuttappan
 
 
The COVID-19 has upped the demand for skilled workers in the Arab Gulf and other foreign countries for Kerala migrants, a senior official at Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) said.
“We are getting a good number of inquiries for skilled workers, especially healthcare workers, from the Arab Gulf. On January 7, we were able to recruit 21 nurses to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health. We are expecting more requirements in the coming months,” K Harikrishnan Namboothiri, NORKA CEO, said.
The NORKA is a department of the Government of Kerala formed in 1996 to redress the grievances of Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs). It is the first of its kind formed in any Indian state.
“The Arab Gulf economy is still in a bad shape following the COVID-19 outbreak and oil price dip. So, opportunities for low-paid workers, especially for construction workers and the domestic workers’ sector, is quite low. It will change. But it may take a little more time. However, we see a high demand for healthcare workers following the COVID-19 outbreak,” Harikrishnan said.
“Additionally, the India-Arab Gulf airspace has not been opened fully. So, it is not easy for a low-skilled job seeker to fly and then find a job like in the past,” Harikrishnan added.
According to the International Council of Nurses (ICN) report, demand for international nurses from the usual destination countries is likely to continue if pre-COVID-19 nursing shortages persist.
“Reduced domestic supply of nurses, combined with pre-existing shortages points to increases in active international recruitment of nurses,” the report says.
A WHO study in Kerala reported that about 20,000 Kerala registered nurses were working internationally, and more than half (57%) of these emigrant nurses were in Gulf countries; other destination countries were the USA (6%), Canada (5.5%), and a smaller share in Australia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Maldives, and Singapore (2% to 3%).

5.6 returned due to job loss
Meanwhile, data shared by NORKA reveals that some 8.6 lakh Keralites have come back from foreign countries, and out of that, some 5.6 lakh have cited job loss as the reason for return since May 7, when Vande Bharat Mission was initiated, till this week.
“There were a few columns in the COVID-19 Jagratha Portal which a returnee had to fill. In that, some 5.6 lakh have been mentioned as job loss. However, we don’t know whether they were terminated or resigned. We only know that 5.6 lakh have cited job loss as a reason to return,” Harikrishnan said.
According to statistics, around 28 lakh Keralites are working in the Arab Gulf, which was hit badly by the COVID-19 outbreak.
“For those who have returned, NORKA has set up a Skill Portal where the returnee can upload their skills. Some 52 companies have been roped in by NORKA to this Skill Portal. They will do a job-skill match and provide jobs,” Harikrishnan added.
Harikrishnan added that NORKA has tied up with 16 banks to provide loans for returnees to rebuild their lives as part of rehabilitation programmes.
“Through us, banks can provide loans up to 30 lakhs. We will provide 3 lakh subsidies. If the repayment is regular, then there are rebates in interest too. We are now popularizing the schemes at district levels by convening workshops and meetings with returnees. However, COVID-19 restrictions have become a hassle,” Harikrishnan said and added that NORKA has also disbursed Rs5,000 for some 115,000 Keralites who couldn’t go back to foreign countries since January due to the COVID-19 outbreak. It comes to Rs57.5 crores.
Remittances from Keralite migrants account for nearly a third of the state's economy. According to the World Bank, Kerala received $18 billion (nearly Rs 1.3 lakh crore) in remittances in 2019.

(The author is an independent journalist and migrant rights researcher based in Kerala.)