The move to send these returnees to the Gulf countries with the help of NRK firms in the region would be a major step in rehabilitating thousands of Keralites who returned from Saudi Arabia after the enforcement of Nitaqat.
The department will submit a detailed report, with five major proposals, on rehabilitation of these returnees to the government next week, which is expected to be considered by the cabinet committee at its next meeting.
The rehabilitation package was delayed by a few weeks.
Norka secretary Rani George said the department was mainly considering five projects.
"We will give priority to sending these returnees back to the Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, with the support of prominent businesspersons from the state. We will convene a meeting of businesspersons such as M A Yusuff Ali at the capital and hold discussions on jobs they can offer," she said, adding that rehabilitating such a large number of returnees in the state was not practical.
Accommodating skilled labourers in major firms in the state itself will be another proposal. "The government will reach an agreement with various industrial and other firms in the state, for accommodating a section of returnees," she said.
"We will also propose financial support to business and industrial firms employing at least 25% Saudi returnees."
Government support for Saudi returnees' cooperative societies is another proposal.
"A group of returnees can form societies such as labour contract cooperatives," George said, adding that loans up to Rs 25 lakh can also be given with 10% subsidy for starting industrial enterprises. "However, we will have to examine whether the industrial regulation norms will allow such subsidies."
She said the government would get more time to implement the package with the Saudi government extending the deadline for Nitaqat by another four months.
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