Kerala   

Keralites continue to ignore perils

KASARAGOD: Hundreds of persons from the State continue to go to Iraq to eke out a living by working as drivers for logistics companies there despite the Union government ban on recruitment to Iraq and the decreasing salaries there. The crisis in the agriculture sector in Kerala has forced them to ignore the perils of working in Iraq.

Muhammad Salih, 38, of Padanna who was killed in a missile attack on a military camp in Iraq on Sunday had gone to Iraq nearly a year ago. He first went to Kuwait on a Kuwaiti visa and got a job in a logistics company supplying essential items for the U.S. military. From Kuwait, he went to Iraq as he needed money. Mr. Salih had come home in December last year on leave. He returned on December 18.

Mr. Salih had worked in Kuwait earlier too. But he had to return 10 years ago following health complications.

Abdul Samad, brother of the deceased, said several persons from Cheruvathoor, Neeleswaram, Kadamkode and Cheemeni in the district worked as drivers with logistics companies in Iraq.

He said when the U.S. occupation of Iraq began, the drivers were given Rs.1.3 lakh as salaries on an average but now, the salaries had been cut. Two years ago, the salaries were reduced to around Rs.50,000. Now, drivers who join work get only around Rs.25,000. The logistics companies provide good food and shelter to the drivers and this could be one of the reasons that encouraged drivers from the State to opt for working in Iraq despite the dangers, he said.

A human resource firm based in Dubai used to directly recruit drivers for Iraq from the State earlier, Mr. Samad said. One of the partners of the company was from Kochi, he said. At present, direct recruitment to Iraq from the State was rare. Most of it was done from among workers from various South Asians working in Kuwait, he said.

The logistics companies that work for U.S. forces in Iraq do not issue visas to Indian workers directly. They reach Kuwait and find employment in Iraq from there.Recruitment to various agencies working for NATO forces in Afghanistan is also conducted in Kuwait.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

State to get power from Tamil Nadu
Cabinet approves Cusat handover
School Notes
Peoplespeak
Little steps for a bigger cause
Traders in agitation mode
Cusat to be become national institute
Mainland boats to boost tuna fishing
‘Magic grass’ that works wonders
Temple priest Keshavan Vazhunnavar passes away
Propitiating Attukal Bhagavathy
‘CPI(M)’s third front move anti-national’
National literary meet concludes
Keralites continue to ignore perils
For farmers’ cause
Film anniversary
Comrades’ farewell
Sensitisation needed
Decked up for the fete
Summer delight

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu