Kerala seeks Centre's intervention on deportation of workers from Kuwait

NEW DELHI: With thousands of Indian workers, many from Kerala, facing the prospects of deportation from Kuwait, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today sought Centre's "urgent intervention" to address the crisis.

Chandy said the Centre should "effectively intervene" in the matter to resolve the crisis, the way it did after Saudi Arabia's decision to implement the similar restrictive labour law, 'Nitaqat'.

"Indians working in Kuwait are concerned about the Gulf country's action. I discussed the issue with External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on phone. I also met Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed. They have assured me that urgent steps would be taken to address the crisis," Chandy told reporters here.

The Chief Minister said hundreds of expatriate workers are returning to the country after the Kuwait government launched a strict action on unauthorised workers.

The state government has said that workers were sent back without even intimating the Indian embassy in Kuwait.

State minister for Non-Resident Keralites K C Joseph would be visiting Kuwait later this week to assess the situation and hold discussions with the Indian Embassy authorities there.

Kerala accounts for a large number of Indian expatriates in the Gulf region.