THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government is planning to set up a legal assistance facility in view of the numerous cases of non-resident Keralites (NRKs) and their families failing to get payments from their foreign employers. NORKA-Roots, the agency of NRK affairs department, has mooted a Pravasi legal aid centre offering free legal services. It is awaiting the nod from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who holds the NORKA portfolio.
“We regularly get representations from NRKs and their families regarding non-payment of dues by foreign employers. But since those matters concern a foreign country, the maximum we could do is to alert the Indian missions in foreign countries. Hence, we are now exploring the option of setting up a facility to offer legal services,” said NORKA secretary Usha Titus.
Ms. Titus, who also holds the charge of NORKA-Roots chief executive officer, said that there were instances of families of deceased NRKs engaging foreign lawyers by signing the power of attorney to claim death benefits. But many complain that they do not get the entire benefits. The NORKA-Roots is planning to seek the services of legal professionals who earlier worked in foreign countries or those who are still working there. Sources said that foreign laws prescribe decent fiscal benefits at the end of one’s service as well as on death while in service. But a large number of Malayalis are deprived of these benefits owing to lack of legal awareness.
