Domestic, diplomatic failures leading to job crisis: Cong

New Delhi, July 7 Expressing concern over adverse effect on jobs of Indian expats, the Congress on Tuesday said the central government's failures had created an employment crisis and it was not doing enough to create jobs while Ind abroad were losing theirs.

"The failure of the central government on domestic and diplomatic fronts has led to an unprecedented employment crisis for our youths and working people," Congress leader KC Venugopal said.

The Congress claimed that nearly 13 crore domestic jobs were lost - with many states reaching unemployment figures of 40 per cent.

The Congress leader alleged that the Modi government had proved to be "singularly and uniquely disastrous" for the country.

"Consistently pulling the country down on all socio-economic indices ever since it came to power in 2014, the thoughtless and mindless decisions taken by it, especially during the last three months or so since the coronavirus pandemic began, have wrecked havoc."

"The failure of the Modi Government in not creating job opportunities at home as also buckling down to even hitherto friendly states in securing India's interest, is more telling than ever before."

Venugopal said: "The Modi government should wake up and takes necessary steps to arrest the continuous downslide by addressing the issues at home and standing up to the threats to Indian people living abroad."

The Congress General Secretary said the US decision to suspend H1B visa from June 24 will result in the repatriation of about 2 lakh Ind. Of all the 85,000 H1B visas, since more than 60,000 were availed by Ind, it would mean many job losses for the Ind, he added.

"A bigger tragedy is staring Ind in the Gulf as the government of Kuwait legislation will limit the number of Ind to not exceed 15 per cent of the total expat population," said Venugopal.

It would mean that 8.5 lakh Ind in Kuwait till now sending home hard foreign currency and sustaining the economy of many states like Kerala will be forced to leave Kuwait, the Congress leader pointed out.

Venugopal, who hails from Kerala, said in 2018, India received close to $4.8 billion (approx Rs 35,939 crore at present exchange rate) from Kuwait as remittances.

( With inputs from IANS )