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Kerala: Consulate aids agency meddle'

A few candidates were advised by consulate officials to approach the private agency.

Thiruvananthapuram: Candidates seeking jobs in the UAE are being subjected to the additional burden of submitting a police clearance certificate, for which they have to pay Rs 6,400 to a private agency, located opposite the UAE consulate, to process the papers. A few candidates, who approached the UAE consulate here, were advised by consulate officials to approach the private agency, Fourth Force, parked opposite the consulate. A consulate official passed on the Force contact numbers to the candidates.

Besides Rs 6,400 payable to the private agency, candidates have to get the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from the local police by remitting a fee of Rs 1,000. This when other Gulf Cooperation Council countries such as Kuwait stipulates a police certificate through the Passport Office, which is the designated agency of the Centre to issue certificates for overseas requirements. According to the website of UAE Embassy, individuals can apply directly or on behalf of their close kin to the consulate. The list of agencies authorized to submit applications are on the embassy website, but Fourth Force name is yet to be listed at the site.

When DC sought to know from the consulate whether any agency has been authorized to receive applications for the PCC attestation and whether any fee has been prescribed for the service, an official said the PCC procedures were being decided by the state government as well as the state police. A detailed email query to the consulate’s official email-id also remained unanswered till going to the press.

DC’s enquiries with Fourth Force failed to get any response. Another official of the agency said the fee details could not be shared over phone. The State has been already seized of new PCC stipulation for UAE jobs. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan the other day urged the Centre to seek relaxations from the UAE at least for a few months. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Vijayan pointed out that the swift implementation of the new norm could spawn rackets.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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