India plans to capitalize on graying EU market by exporting young manpower

Kanchipuram:
India is working on strategy to have legalized migration of young people to Europe in a bid to capture the labour market following the graying of European population.

Delivering the inaugural address after the opening of International Seminar on Young People and Migration organized by Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development here on Wednesday, Union Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vyalar Ravi said as European population is ageing India is talking at various levels to provide skilled manpower.

As the population of Europe is graying, they require young people to work and we are talking to them at all levels as we have doctors, nurses and engineers, the minister said.

Interestingly, as per the figures of European Statistical Office, 17 per cent of Europeans are above 65 and the population is projected to rise to 30 per cent by 2060.

Indian Council of Overseas Employees, a unit under
the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs was trying to sign an agreement with the EU for legal migration of the young people to the European countries, the minister said.
Later talking to Express, Nitin Kumar, head of International Organisation of Migration said that the Human Partnership Agreement has already been signed with Denmark. “We are still working on an agreement with France, Belgium asnd other European Union nations and it is at different stages,” he added.

Surprisingly, despite the financial crisis and reverse migration, the remittances have not been hit. “The remittances has increased last year from $54.5 billion to $57 billion,” the minister said, however adding that reverse migration has also started with Indian returning from abroad.

Urging the youth to dabble in other professions, he said the Information technology may reach a saturation level, so one should look at other professions where the demand is more in global workplace.

To a query on Indians being stranded in foreign prisons, the minister said the government is taking steps to provide legal aid besides providing a $1,500 for women who go to court.

Ravi also said that he is planning to bring in amendments to the new Immigration Management Bill that has been drafted to replace the existing Immigration Regulation Act, 1983 to curb illegal migration