Indian job seekers demand facility for medical screening to Kuwait

Kerala based Manpower recruiters' associations and nurses' associations will seek India government help to set up a facility in the state for medical screening of job seekers, which is mandatory for visa clearance to Kuwait.

After Khadamat Integrated Solutions — authorized to conduct medical screening of job seekers to Kuwait — suspended operations in Kochi, job aspirants are now forced to undergo the procedure in other cities.

Kochi was one of the four centres run by Khadamat with other three in Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad. Now, job seekers to Kuwait are forced to undergo medical screening mandatory for visa clearance in nearby cities. However, this will cost Rs 40,000 which includes travel expenses.

Moreover, there are chances for job seekers to lose the amount if they fail to clear the procedure.

Meanwhile, reports indicated that job seekers are not ready to go to Kuwait after paying this hefty sum for medical test. Reports say that no candidates turned up for a recruitment drive organised by a private company last day. For low-income jobs, the total medical test fee will come to around 75,000 rupee including visa stamping, while the salary offered will be less than 20,000 Rs.

The Kochi unit of Khadamat was closed after job aspirants filed a complaint with police alleging excess amount charged for the procedure. Khadamat was reportedly collecting Rs 24,000 for medical screening of candidates leaving for Kuwait as against Rs 3,600 collected by previous company GAMCA. Later, protector of emigrants, Kochi, also filed a report against Khadamat to protector general of emigrants, which led to the closure of the centre. Staff of the agency could not produce the required documents on fee that can be charged for screening.

Meanwhile, some of the nurses who could not clear the medical screening in time, have filed a writ before Kerala high court seeking action against the agency.