Ministry of Labour and Manpower has decided to take up the issue with Saudi Embassy to authorise Pakistan Overseas Employment Promoters Association (POEPA) to submit passports for visa endorsement, it is learnt. The decision was taken in high level meeting chaired by federal secretary Labour and Manpower Arif Azeem held here on November 5, 2010.
During the meeting three issues were discussed; (i) POEPA drop box in the Royal Consulate of Saudi Arabia; (ii) Registration of new Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs) in the Royal Consulate of Saudi Arabia; and (iii) the problems relating to approved Medical Centres Association (GAMCA).
The secretary Arif Azeem assured the delegation led by the Central Chairman POEPA Syed Habib Ali Shah to complete the process of authorising PEOPA to drop passports for visa endorsements in Saudi Embassy within couple of days. Secretary stated that there were two complications in the way of recommendation of POEPA to Saudi Consulate. First the Association denies voting right for two years to new members and some OEPs are denied membership by the Association.
The Secretary General POEPA stated in reply that the two years seniority for voting eligibility is the requirement of Rule 17(1) (a) of Trade Organisations Rules 2007 & not imposed by POEPA. He also said that no OEP had been denied membership and there was no instance to prove that OEPs were denied memberships. Central Chairman POEPA said that in the meeting held on July 7, 2010, ex-federal secretary Tariq Iqbal Puri promised to expedite the matter by holding a meeting with the Ambassador, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but no progress had been made in this connection after the lapse of almost four months time.
The Central Chairman POEPA said Approved Medical Centers Association (GAMCA) had established a cartel, which not only deprived the intending emigrant of natural right of choice, but also established a monopoly causing big problems for OEPs.
The POEPA delegation alleged that GAMCA had started misusing its authority by refusing medical tests to an emigrant who belonged to other city.