Foreign employers blast NORKA laxity

THIRUVANANTHAPUAM: A section of Gulf-based employers has alleged lackadaisical approach on the part of NORKA-Roots in the recruitment of nurses, while the state government agency countered it by alleging of suspected malpractice attempts by employers. A couple of Saudi-based health clinics also expressed fears that they would be forced to look for nurses from the Philippines where the procedures are swift.

However, NORKA-Roots officials contend that some of them were trying to make backdoor entry scuttling fair selection process. Mohammed Jasheer who works with the human resources wing of Saudi-based Health Polyclinic told DC that they had been knocking at the doors of NORKA-Roots for several days for five nurses.

"We have been continuously recruiting from Kerala over the last many years through private agencies. Now we have approached NORKA-Roots through the proper channel. But the response was not at all impressive. "My employer is pressurising to make recruitment from the Philippines," said Mr Jasheer, a Keralite.

NORKA secretary Usha Titus holding the charge of NORKA-Roots chief executive officer told DC that the firm insisted on recruiting a couple of nurses shortlisted by them. “Being a government agency, we could only follow a fair recruitment process, which may take a minimum time for notifying the vacancies and carrying out the selection," she said.

Another employer, Najeeb of Saha Polyclinic in Riyadh, also complained of delayed recruitment process by NORKA-Roots. “NORKA-Roots consultant B. Vivek had promised us immediate hiring and hence we decided to place our demands. But things move at a snail's pace, which is really disappointing," said Mr Najeeb. Meanwhile, NORKA-Roots sources said some employers insist on recruiting nurses they shortlisted. It leads to suspicions of malpractices.