NITAQAT-RETURN MIGRATION TO KERALA FROM

SAUDI ARABIA

ABSTRACT

Return migration to Kerala from Saudi Arabia is a common problem faced by India. The return
migration is a new phenomenon in which returning from the overseas countries to their home
country. Saudi Arabia is the third largest remittances paying country ,next to the US and
Switzerland in the world. .The economic recession in the overseas countries carried a big role in
the sudden return of the employees from those countries. The major reasons examined are the oil
boom and economic recession affected in gulf countries in the last few years, the expiry of the
contract, ill health, poor working condition, family issues and decreased demand of Kerala
workers in the employment sector.

INTRODUCTION

Migration is a complete phenomenon that has been indispensable to human histories, culture and
civilizations. It has occupied one of the most crucial positions in the economic and social
development discourse in various countries of the world. According to International Organization
for Migration, the term migrant was usually understood to cover all cases where the division to
migrate was taken freely by the individual concerned for moving to another country or region to
better their material or social conditions and improve the prospect for themselves or their family.

Migrations occurs at a variety of scales- International (between the continents) Intercontinental

(between countries on a given continent) and interregional (within countries) one of the most
significant migration pattern has been rural to urban migration- the movement of people from the
countryside to cities in search of opportunities.

Human migration is the movement by people from one place to another for the purpose of taking
up permanent or semi permanent residence, usually across a political boundary. An example of
semi permanent residence would be the seasonal movements of migrant from laborers. People

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 can either choose to move ( voluntary migration) or be forced to move (involuntary
migration).

Migrations have occurred throughout human history, beginning with the movements of the first
human group from their origins in East Africa to their current location in the world. Human
migration affects population patterns and characteristics, social and cultural patterns and process,
economics and physical environments. As people move, their cultural traits and ideas diffuse
along with them creating and modifying cultural landscapes.

NEED AND SIGNIFICANCE

The new labour policies by the Saudi Arabia made a sudden return to large amount of migrants
from the Saudi Arabia to Kerala. It affects Kerala economy and reduces remittance. It is the right
time to assess how the nitaqat policy in Saudi Arabia affect those migrant who forced to return to
their native place. It is essential to understand the socio-economic background of return migrants
in order to provide better support and welfare mechanism from the side of Government. Its
understood that majority of migrants who forced to back their home places from Saudi Arabia
are unskilled and belong to poor income settings. It is imperative to know whether this forced
return migration has adversely affect the economic status of these return migrants

OBJECTIVES

To analyse the socio-economic status of people who returned from Saudi to their home place due
to Nitaqat.

To asess the financial and employment status of migrants after return from saudi Arabia

To evaluate the effectiveness of specially designed government programs to support return

migrants.

METHODOLOGY

The present study uses both secondary and primary data. The primary data was collected from
return migrants from Saudi Arabia by using a structured questionnaire. The primary data was

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collected from Malappuram. Journals, reports from NORKA and Planning Board, Government
of Kerala, News Paper reports were used for secondary data and other materials for the study.

Nitaqat Policy of Saudi Arabia

The Nitaqat law being implemented by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia makes it mandatory for
Saudi companies to reserve 10% of jobs for Saudi nationals. Saudi Arabia has very strong socio-
economic reasons to justify such as policy. Unlike other Gulf countries Saudi Arabia itself has
large member of unemployed citizens. According to recent estimates the unemployment rate
among Saudi nationals has reached 12%. It also reports that more than 6.5 million non Saudis are
working in the private sector of the kingdom compared to 1,00,000 Saudis. In 2012 there were
3,40,000 firms in the kingdom that did not employ any Saudi. Of late there is a growing feeling
of resentment among the citizens of Saudi Arabia resulting from expatriate work force. The
Nitaqat law is aimed at eliminating unemployed and localizing jobs in the kingdom.

Nitaqat seeks to replace the 1994 scheme of Saudization which required 30% the jobs to be
reserved for Saudi citizens. Saudization scheme failed due to the interest loopholes in the system
and targeted 30% localization of jobs could not be achieved.

The Impact on India

The money that migrants send home is important not only to their families also to their countries
balance of payments. In many developing countries remittances represent a significant
proposition of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as well as foreign exchange earnings. In 2008,
India was the leading country in the world in terms of the volume of remittances with $52 billion
which contributed 4.2% of GDP. According to the estimates of the World Bank, remittances to
the country have grown steadily from $ 120 million in 1970, to 2.76 billion in 1991, $ 12 billion
in 2000, and to about $52 billion in 2008. While the World Bank project remittances to India at $
47 billion for 2009, a report prepared by the Centre for Development Studies projected that the
world be $ 53 billion.

The remittances to Kerala between 1991 and 2008 indicates a continues growth of such
remittances. The flow of about Rs. 43,288 crore into the Kerala economy in 2008 by way of
remittances had a very significant impact on the states economy and the living conditions of its

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citizens. It is important to state 88.5% of emigrants from Kerala went to the Gulf and as such
they contribute a large chunk of the remittances that flow into Kerala.

Analysis
Malappuram district with its headquarters at Malappuram is a district in the state of Kerala,
India. The district was formed on 16th June 1969. The classic medieval centre of vedic learning
and local politics, Thirunavaya, home of the traditional ayurveda medicine, Kottakkal and one of
the oldest centre of education of Islam the region, Ponnani are situated in Malappuram district
along with rapidly expanding towns like Manjeri, Perinthalmanna, Chemmad and Edappal. In the
1970s, huge oil reserves of Persian gulf were opened to commercial extraction and thousands of
unskilled people migrated to the Gulf seeking fortunes. They sent money home, propping up a
sleepy rural economy and by late 20th century, the region had achieved first world health
standards and near universal literacy.
The present development, both economical and social of the Malappuram district owes to the
Kerala Gulf Diaspor; Malappuram district comprises a vast wild life collection and a number of
small hills, forests, liitle rivers and streams flowing to the west, backwaters and paddy, areca nut,
cashew nut, pepper, ginger, pulses, coconut, banana, tapioca and rubber plantation. Malappuram
is one of Muslim majority districts or union territories in south India other being Lakshadweep.
The Hindu temples and moplah mosques of the region are unknown for their colorful festivals. It
is the most popular district in Kerala.
1.Educational status of return Migrants

Qualification Number of Return Migrants Percentage

SSLC 10 20
+2 5 10
Degree 2 4
Technical 2 4
Others 31 62
Total 50 100

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The table shows the educational status of return migrants. It is clear from the table that more than
62% of return migrants are included in the category of others (below SSLC). 20% of return
migrants included in the category of +2, 4% of return migrants included the category of degree
and technical qualification.In this table explain major number of return migrants are below SSLC
qualification.

1.Reason for Migration

Category No. of migrants Percentage
Job offer 6 12
Financial problem at home 25 50
Lack of job opportunities 10 20
Other 9 18
Total 50 100
Source: primary survey
The table make it clear that 12% of return migrates migrating other country for the reason of job
offer. 50% of return migrants migrate for the reason of financial problem at home. 20% of
migrate for the reason of lack of job opportunities.
In this table we have to understand major portion of migrates migrated for the reason of financial
problem at home.

3.Reason for Return Migration

Category Number of Return Percentage
Migrants
Loss of job 8 16
Nitaqat 15 30
Expiry of contract 6 12
Poor working condition 13 26
Health problem 8 16
Total 50 100
Source: primary survey
It can be seen from the table that the 16% of return migrants who are returned from Saudi Arabia
to home country for the reason of loss of job and 30% are returned from the reason of Nitaqat
problem. The major portion of migrates returned from Saudi Arabia to home country for the
Nitaqat problem.

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The table show the mental status of the return migrants. 82% of return migrants are married and
12% of return migrants are unmarried. 4% are widow and 2% of return migrants are divorced.

The higher percentage of return migrants are included the married category.

.FINDINGS

1. In return migrants mens are more than the womens.

2. Large number of return migrants are migrated for the reason of nitaqat policy.
3. Large number of return migrants are below SSLC qualification.
4. The income of the return migrants after migration is greater than the before migration.
5. Large number of return migrants are including the age group of 50 to55.
6. The government programs for return migrants work not effectively.
7. The remittance from abroad is reduced for the Nitaqat problem.
8. Large number of return migrants are married.
9. Large number of return migrants faces health problems.
10. Most of them are depend other family members

SUGGESTIONS

Based on the findings of the present study, I suggest following measures to improve the
living condition of the return migrants.
1. Develop new government programs and policies for support return migrants.
2. The recent programs of the government should be work effectively.
3. The permanent settlement of expiry of contract of the migrants
4. Provide monthly checkup of the migrated people from kerala to other countries.
5. Improve the working condition of the migrated people in the working place.

CONCLUSION

The return migration is a new phenomenon in which returning from the overseas countries to
their home country.The rate of return migration has increased at a large level during the period of
economic recession during 2008.The new labour policies by the Saudi Arabia made a sudden
return of a huge amount of migrants from the Saudi Arabia to kerala.

Saudi Arabia is the third largest remittances paying country,next to the US and
Switzerland in the world.According to the Gauss in the second quarter of 2011,Saudi Arabia paid
$28 billion in the form of remittances,which is around 5 percent of the economy.

It is clear that the reason for return migration is various .The economic recession in the
overseas countries carried a big role in the sudden return of the employees from those
countries.The major reasons examined are the oil boom and economic recession affected in gulf
countries in the last few years, the expiry of the contract, ill health, poor working condition,
family issues and decreased demand of kerala workers in the employment sector.

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 The statistics related to return migration and the demographical status of the return
migrants are very poor in international level.The governments and other related departments
gave much focus in the recent years only. Moreover some of the countries like Philippines
,Taiwan and other such a few numbers of countries are very advanced in data base of
returnees.But with regard to lndia at national level the data related to return migrants are quite
scarce.But the state kerala has a special effort to keep the details of returnees through its
migration surveys in every 10 year

References:
1. Azad, P. Maya, K. (2012). Return migration and self employment in Kerala: A case
study in Palakkad district.
Lambert Academic publishing.
2. Ammassari and Black (2001). Harnessing the Potential of Migration and Return to
Promote Development:
Applying Concepts to West Africa. Sussex Migration Working Papers.
3. Boere, Auke ( 2010). Low-skilled Indian construction workers in the Gulf, Singapore
and Malaysia: Return to INDIA
4. Centre for Development Studies ( 2008). Global Financial Crisis and Kerala
Economy: Impact and Mitigation
Measures. Report submitted to the Government of Kerala.
5. International Organization for Migration (2004). Return migration policies and
practices in Europ9068-190-X.