Migrant workers fly in, return hastily

In the backdrop of snowballing Omicron fears, several Indians working in the Gulf have cut short their vacation and flown back to resume their work.

Also, anticipating a possible hike in flight charges and likely restrictions on flight services, several migrants have returned to their homeland while there is also a rush to go back to the work stations. This happens both ways.

Gulf migrants belonging to Adilabad, Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts are hurriedly finalising their travel plans for fear of eruption of a third wave courtesy the Omicron spread.

Due to the Covid-19’s adverse effect on the aviation sector finances, a few airlines have collected huge fares from those flying out of Gulf countries to India. The migrant workers, mostly belonging to north Telangana state districts, were forced to pay hefty sums for travel.

In addition, quarantine charges too burdened them in the last few months. To reach Saudi Arabia, Kuwait or Bahrain, the migrants had to have a 14day quarantine in Sri Lanka, Maldives or Dubai en route to their destination. For instance, a migrant worker from India usually pays `90,000 to reach Saudi Arabia. But the midway quarantine rule forced passengers to pay as high as `1.50 lakh.

Reportedly, Saudi officials allowed local quarantine of five days for migrant workers. As a result, lower flight charges and the reduction of 14-day quarantine to five days gave them some relief. In these circumstances, some migrant workers thought it fit to cut short their tour plans and reach back to the workplaces earlier than what was originally planned.

● A FEW airlines have collected huge fares from those flying out of Gulf countries to India. The migrant workers, mostly belonging to north Telangana, were forced to pay hefty sums for travel.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle from Sharjah, migrant worker Ashok of Jagiryal village in Bheemgal mandal of Nizamabad district said he got RT-PCR tests done thrice — at home, the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Hyderabad and at Dubai Airport before he reached the destination.

Travellers must reach airport three hours before their scheduled time of departure, for RTPCR tests. “I resumed my work in Sharjah after showing a Covid negative report,” he said.

Pendem Srinivas, who runs a travel agency at Morthad in Nizamabad, said a few migrant workers are showing an interest to reach back to the Gulf countries soon. If a lockdown is imposed in India in the event of a third wave, the migrant workers will be stuck here and lose their employment in Gulf, he said.

“If their personal matters like attending marriages etc., are done in their native places, the workers are ready to return for work. Only the new visa holders are facing restrictions in the Gulf countries. Else, the civil identity card holders are simply resuming their work a bit early too,” he explained.