With a section of non-resident Keralites (NRKs) trying to create a culture of trade unionism in Gulf countries, an alarmed state Congress leadership have reached out to the NRKs warning them against it pointing out the stringent laws in Gulf countries.

The Timesof India reports that a section of pro-Congress NRKs were planning to launch trade union activities in the Gulf, following which the KPCC has shot off a missive to heads of Overseas Indian Cultural Congress (OICC) an expat organization affiliated to the Congress party having units in five Gulf countries, warning of serious consequences and asking them not to associate with any such activity .

“You would be aware that Gulf countries do not permit political activities or trade unionism. Such attempts would attract a ban on even the limited functional freedom that OICC has in Gulf countries,” the letter by KPCC president V M Sudheeran said as per TOI report.

However the report says that the idea of trade unionism strengthened after the visit of a senior INTUC leader from state to Gulf countries.

“The INTUC leader had addressed several meetings and had asked the expats to organize themselves to raise their grievances including pitiable conditions in labour camps and other issues. This gained some traction among some of our supporters,” a senior KPCC leader told TOI.