<span style="color: #222222;">A Parliamentary Panel has asked the government to initiate consultations with all the stakeholders without delay for the rehabilitation of Indian workers, who have lost their jobs abroad in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The panel on External Affairs headed by P. P. Chaudhary tabled its report in Parliament yesterday. The panel observed that government is implementing various programmes and schemes for the welfare of the Indian diaspora, no specific scheme exists for the rehabilitation of the workers who lost their jobs including the huge population of Gulf returnees, in the wake of this pandemic.<br />''<br />''The committee members are aware that many workers have gone back to their employment abroad with the easing of the COVID-19 Pandemic situation and the re-opening of doors to Indian workers by the Gulf countries. The committee, however, feels that a rehabilitation scheme to ensure livelihood security for those workers who lost their jobs and could not return or prefer to stay back in the country, is still needed. Therefore, it recommended that a comprehensive rehabilitation scheme may be worked out in coordination with other Ministries and Departments concerned as well as the State Governments for those workers who lost their jobs.</span><br />