Why in news?
There are reports of continued job cuts in several Gulf countries, including Oman, which has instructed government-owned companies to replace expat workers “as quickly as possible” with Omanis.
Amidst these reports, expat Indian citizens have played a significant role in creating prosperous economies in the Gulf region, the External Affairs Ministry said on 30th April 2020.
Significance of the order
- There are at least 8,00,000 Indian workers in the kingdom and a part of them are likely to be impacted by the order.
- The Omani order, when carried out, is expected to force significant part of the expat Indians to return home.
- In view of the COVID-19 outbreak in the Gulf states and the accompanying regional economic downturn, India is already preparing to evacuate a large number of citizens from the Gulf.
- Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tarik had assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the salaries and well-being of the Indian community would be protected as the country dealt with the economic downturn that had resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ministry’s view on the order
- The Gulf countries greatly value their relation with India.
- They also value the role of the Indian diaspora in the development of the region.
- The policy of Oman is not specific to India and it does not target Indians.
Strategic partner
- Oman has been a strategic partner of India, and a large number of local workers are from South Asia.
- Diplomatic sources said the order was not connected to the ongoing pandemic-related economic downturn in the Gulf.
- Oman has been part of India’s international consultations on the pandemic.
