Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 16 (IANS): Nurses in Kerala might be able to go to Kuwait without paying the hefty fees that private agencies charge as the state government plans to entrust state agencies with the task of recruiting nurses.

These agencies include the Overseas Development and Employment Promotion Consultants (ODEPC) and Roots-Norka (the agency that looks after the welfare of the Kerala diaspora).

The idea was mooted by the Indian embassy in Kuwait after numerous complaints of Kerala nurses recruited through private agencies getting a raw deal in terms of salaries and service conditions.

State Minister for Diaspora K.C. Joseph told IANS: "The Centre has to chip in for this and we are preparing a detailed road map to see that our own agencies also enter into this and Kuwait is one target area."

The nurses who seek jobs in Kuwait have to shell out huge amounts as recruitment fees, touching more than Rs. 1 million.

Speaking to IANS a nurse currently employed in Kuwait said that it's the Indian nurses that are given a raw deal. "Nurses from Philippines come to work in Kuwait without paying any recruitment fees at all. Since we (Kerala nurses) come here after paying very high recruitment fees, despite all hardships we cling on here, as our first priority is to recover the recruitment fees, whereas Philippine nationals resign and return the moment they feel unhappy with the working conditions," said the Kerala nurse who did not wish to be identified.