Hiring of Kerala nurses falls through as firms fail to keep promise

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even a month after fresh regulations in overseas nursing recruitment came into force on May 30, not a single nurse could get recruited from India to the Gulf countries.

The three government agencies empanelled for recruitments continue to pin their hopes on assurances from foreign employers for placement orders.

Sources say the major bottleneck is the reluctance of foreign employers to provide mandatory details like minimum wages and other particulars on the eMigrate portal.

On an average, nearly 400 nurses used to migrate from the country every month, which has now come to a standstill.

Sources at NORKA-Roots and overseas development and employment promotion council, the two empanelled Kerala agencies, have received assurance from a couple of Gulf-based hospital groups promoted by NRIs for recruitment.

But none have placed a formal order on the eMigrate. The situation of overseas manpower corporation of Tamil Nadu, the third agency empanelled by the centre, is also not different.

United Nurses Association president Jasminesha said Qatar-based Hamad Hospital was even rethinking their plans to recruit about 500 nurses from India after the fresh regulations.

“Instead of controlling fraud recruiting agencies, the government has now spoiled the job prospects of thousands and nurses,” he said.

Though CM Oommen Chandy took up the matter with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, there has been no relief.

“The Union minister seems to be more worried about her job than that of these nurses,” said a state government official.

The nurses’ organisations are planning to launch a strong agitation seeking steps to address the stalemate.