CM Sathisan of Kerala has written to Prime Minister Modi and highlighted the plight of Kerala-based workers, who face significant visa restrictions and potential job losses.
Kerala Chief Minister V D Sathisean on Sunday sought the Centre’s intervention to help Indian healthcare workers affected by visa-related issues in the UAE following an Iranian lockdown in Dubai as the ongoing conflict in West Asia continues for over three months now.
In the letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sathisan highlighted the plight of Kerala-based workers who face significant visa restrictions and prospects of losing their jobs due to hospital closure.
Also read: Kerala Governor criticizes partial recitation of Vande Mataram; CM says complete handover is not mandatory
“I am writing to seek urgent intervention on behalf of a group of Indian healthcare professionals, mostly from Kerala, who have been working at the Iranian Hospital, Dubai, and are currently facing a very distressing situation,” he wrote.
“Following the closure of the hospital amid recent regional developments, many of these nurses and healthcare workers have reportedly faced visa-related restrictions in the UAE, impacting their ability to obtain work, visit and dependent visas. As a result, families who have lived and worked in the UAE for years are facing uncertainty, financial hardship and the potential loss of their livelihoods.”
What Sathisan said in his letter
He shared the full message on his
Also Read I VD Satheesan holds finance and law, Chennithala takes charge of Kerala Home Department
In his message, the Prime Minister highlighted the past contributions of this group of workers and urged the Indian Embassy to coordinate with local authorities in the UAE and come up with a “just and compassionate” solution for the affected people.
“Many of the affected individuals are currently approaching the end of their grace period and fear that they will have to leave the UAE, which could jeopardize their future employment opportunities and professional licenses. This situation has caused great concern among many Malayali families whose lives and children’s education are rooted in the UAE,” the Prime Minister wrote.
“Given the humanitarian dimensions of this issue and the well-being of Indian nationals abroad, I strongly request the Ministry of External Affairs to study the matter and reach out to the Embassy of India in the UAE and concerned UAE authorities to explore a just and compassionate solution,” he added.
Also read: ‘I have lost a brother’: Kerala CM Sathisan mourns the death of ‘Prince of Laughter’ Salim Kumar
Iranian hospital closure leaves workers in limbo
The sudden closure of the Iranian Red Crescent Hospital in Dubai has affected dozens of healthcare professionals associated with it. The UAE has “forcibly” closed the Iranian Red Crescent Hospital in Dubai, Press TV reported, adding that patients have been expelled from the facility and the hospital’s assets have been frozen.
Since the United States and Israel launched their first attack against Iran, Dubai has silently been part of instigating numerous anti-Iranian actions that have included media campaigns and targeting of individuals and institutions linked to the country.
Currently, there is no clear end to hostilities in West Asia, as the White House and Tehran remain divided on some key issues that could lead to the formation of a peace agreement between the two parties. In the absence of this peace agreement, hostilities continue on both sides.
Stuti Gupta is a content producer at Hindustan Times, based in New Delhi, where she is part of the general news team, tasked with reporting on events across the country that impact the local and international environment. In her role at HT, she is responsible for monitoring incoming news updates, packaging stories and publishing them in a format that best suits her purpose. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from St. Xavier’s, Mumbai, and is interested in working in international affairs. Aside from her interest in the geopolitical world, she is a reader, writer, speaker, debater, and learner who loves getting new information. She has been recognized for her previous literary work at an international level having won the Gold Prize, Gold Prize and Silver Prize in various years participating in the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition along with winning Third Prize and publishing her story in Children’s World in 2017. Except for academic and professional endeavours, she has a passion for traveling to new places, exploring new cultures and cuisines, documenting them through words and images and interacting with people from diverse backgrounds. She is also very passionate about studying and actively participating in art forms such as cinema, dance, theatre, and music as a tool for cultural storytelling.Read more
