Overseas jobs: ‘ODEPC should play a major role’

The Labour Department will be  modernised to keep up with changing times, said Labour Minister Shibu Baby John.

Launching the job portal under the Overseas Development and Employment Promotion Consultants Limited (ODEPC) here on Wednesday, he said that along with overseas development and employment, domestic employment has also been entrusted with the ODEPC.

He said that for including ODEPC in the priority sector, all support will be given by the State Government.

The Minister pointed out that though ODEPC was functioning in the state for 35 long years, only 6,500 people were recruited by the agency and an introspection was needed to overcome this.

He said that the ODEPC should play a major role in overseas recruitment as thousands of people are migrating to Gulf countries with the help of middlemen.

“Many among those working in Gulf countries are subjected to hardships and the situation can be changed only if middlemen are avoided. For this to happen, ODEPC should take up this role. Clear cut guidelines have already been issued to the ODEPC to improve its performance and take a main role in the overseas recruitment scenario,” he said.

He said that the State Government was committed on employment generation and the skill development initiative was a major step towards this.

“Major changes will be carried out in the ITI syllabus in order to upgrade it to international standards.

Those who had registered with the employment exchange would be given training in skill development to make them employable. Parallel to the training, existing employment opportunities will also be identified so that a person who completes training will get a job immediately,” he said.

K Muralidharan MLA presided over the function, Labour Secretary and director of ODEPC Anil Xavier, Tata Centre Consultancy head, Labour Commissioner T T Antony, Employment-Training director K Biju and ODEPC managing director G L Muralidharan also participated at the function.