NEW DELHI: No sailor will be allowed to go abroad for jobs unless he applies through government recognised agencies, which will guarantee their welfare, Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said today.
Gadkari said in Lok Sabha that the decision has been made after taking into consideration incidents of employment frauds where many Indian seafarers have became victims.
Altogether 478 agencies are recognised by the government and linked with the Bureau of Immigration. If seafarers (sailors) don’t apply through these recognised agencies, they will not be allowed to go abroad for jobs, he said during the Question Hour.
The minister said at present there were 1.6 lakh Indian seafarers out of whom 1.2 lakh were working in foreign flags bearing ships. Among the total seafarers, around 4,000 are women.
“We are trying our best to provide all facilities so that Indians get jobs abroad, women get priority and no one is cheated. We will keep trying to do everything for the welfare of seafarers,” he said.
Gadkari also favoured improvement of training facilities for seafarers in the country so that more and more Indians get jobs abroad.
He, however, said the health of the Shipping industry has not been good and Rs 1.5 lakh crore funds of banks were stuck in it.
“I am worried and looking forward on how to improve it,” he said. (AGENCIES)
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