No need to panic over Gulf retrenchments: NRI Commissioner

by Joao Sousa
Posted on 2009-06-25
MARGAO: The Commissioner for Affairs of Non-Resident Indians, Mr Eduardo Faleiro on Wednesday said that Goans have nothing to panic over retrenchment in the Gulf countries as the effect on Goans is very small.
He further said that in order to meet similar situation that may arise in the future, the office of the Commissioner of NRI Affairs has prepared a Non-Resident Goans Welfare Bill, which will be presented to the state government for introducing in the next session of the legislative assembly.
Speaking exclusively to ‘The Navhind Times’ over reports that a large number of Goans in the Gulf have been losing their jobs, Mr Faleiro said that the Commission has been continuously monitoring the situation in the Gulf countries by keeping in touch with Goan societies in the Gulf countries and added that Oman, Qatar and Bahrain have hardly been affected due to recession while Kuwait has been affected to some extent and added that Dubai is the worst hit among the Gulf counties.
Mr Faleiro said that the real estate and motorcar industry were among the worst hit. He informed that there are not too many Goans in these sectors and added if at all there were, they are mostly sales representatives and added that few Goans have been moving out of Dubai.
Talking on the Non-Resident Goans Welfare Bill, Mr Faleiro said that it would provide financial assistance to people in case of loss of employment and also for self-employment. Mr Faleiro said that the bill also intends to provide pension to NRIs above the age of 60, family pension upon the death of a member who has been contributing to welfare fund for not less than 5 years, financial assistance upon death of a member due to illness or accident besides financial assistance for medical treatment of a member affected by serious illness and other facilities. Mr Faleiro said that the benefits will be available for those who contribute towards the welfare fund for not less than five years with a monthly contribution of around Rs 300.
Meanwhile, the National Union of Seafarers of India, Goa representative, Mr Xavier Rodrigues said that he was not aware of Goans on the ship losing their jobs due to recession. He said he was yet to receive any communication from the Mumbai office and that he would be monitoring the developments closely.