Malayali Nurses Struggle to Make Ends Meet in UK After Failed Job Offer: Turning to Painting and Other Odd Jobs

New Delhi

Malayali Nurses in the UK Struggle to Find Employment

A group of 400 Malayali nurses who arrived in the UK through an agency in Kochi have found themselves facing financial distress and working odd jobs to make ends meet. Stranded in a foreign land for the past six months, they were unable to return to their country due to mounting debts totaling 12.5 lakh rupees.

Despite engaging in various daily tasks, such as painting and cutting grass, these nurses struggle to adequately cover their rent. One individual, who had come to the UK with the promise of providing his wife with gold and taking out a loan, is now working and residing in an apple orchard to sustain himself.

Furthermore, there are those resorting to seeking assistance from food banks designated for the impoverished.

In light of these dire circumstances, the Pravasi Legal Cell (UK Chapter) recently submitted a petition to Minister S. Jayashankar, urging intervention from the Ministry of External Affairs. Many of these nurses had arrived in the UK earlier this year, having paid their fees in three installments.

The registration fee of Rs. 5600 was followed by a fee of 2 lakhs during the interview stage. Though the nurses expressed their preference to pay through a bank account, they were informed about a substantial GST charge, leading them to pay with cash instead.

Upon receiving the job guarantee letter, they were required to submit an additional 3.5 lakhs, followed by another 3.5 lakhs for visa processing. These funds were transferred in the name of the UK-based organization. However, despite fulfilling these financial obligations, the nurses received only a visitor visa upon arrival. The promised job entailed caring for autistic children under the age of 15.

Sonia Sunny, coordinator of Pravasi Legal Cell UK Chapter, informed that efforts have also been made to seek assistance from the Indian Embassy situated in the UK.

In a disheartening turn of events, the nursing job guaranteed by the agency failed to materialize, leaving these Malayali nurses to resort to painting and other odd jobs in the UK to sustain themselves.

New Delhi ∙ Some of the 400 Malayali nurses who came to the UK through the agency in Kochi make a living by painting and cutting grass. They were stuck here for 6 months and could not return to their country because of their debts of 12.5 lakh rupees. Although he does other jobs for daily work, he is unable to pay the rent correctly. A man who came to the UK by promising his wife gold and taking a loan said he had been working and living in an apple orchard for a few weeks. There are also people who eat food from the food bank for the poor.

Pravasi Legal Cell (UK Chapter) yesterday submitted a petition to Minister S. Jayashankar seeking the intervention of the Ministry of External Affairs. Many of them arrived in the UK earlier this year. Paid in 3 installments. First, the registration fee of Rs.5600. 2 lakh is taken as fee in the interview stage. Nurses were interested in paying through a bank account, but were told they would have to pay a huge GST, so they bought it with cash.

3.5 lakhs after the job guarantee letter and another 3.5 lakh rupees at the time of visa. These were sent in the name of the organization in the UK. However, the visitor visa was also obtained. The job offered was looking after autistic children under the age of 15. Sonia Sunny, coordinator of Pravasi Legal Cell UK Chapter, said that the help of the Indian Embassy in the UK was also sought.

English Summary : Didn’t get the nursing job offered by the agency, Afterwards Malaali nurses painting in the UK

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