Directive to Indian job seekers met with criticism

Dubai, March 13 (UNI) Qatar's new law seeking Indian expatriate job seekers to produce police clearance certificate (PCC) from their home districts has met with criticism and the Indian embassy in Doha has taken up the issue with the authorities concerned urging them to scrap the directive.

''The Peninsula'' newspaper in a report quoted an Indian Embassy official as saying many people, who were ignorant of the new rule, faced problems when asked to produce the certificate while completing visa or immigration related formalities.

''For many people, it is nearly impossible to travel home and secure a certificate within the stipulated time,'' he said.

Many senior embassy officials have met representatives of the government and brought the problem to their notice, he added.

Earlier, the embassy used to issue clearance certificates to Indians, but as per the new rule, they have to secure it from their home districts and get it attested by the embassy.

He said a PCC is normally required when changing a job or the sponsor or migrating to a third country.

''For a new-comer, it is understandable but for a person staying in Qatar for many years, it could create a problem to go home and secure a new certificate,''the official added.

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