Crash course in Arabic for Goan Gulf job seekers

PANAJI - Goa, whose workforce ranks second only to Kerala in job-related migration to Gulf countries, will now offer job aspirants a crash course in Arabic to help them there.

Goa’s non-resident Indian (NRI) cell commissioner Eduardo Faleiro Wednesday said the state government’s overseas employment agency would conduct the course beginning October.

“The course will be in spoken Arabic. The language is spoken in 24 countries from North Africa to the Middle East and beyond. The course is intended to improve communication skills of job seekers in the Arab world,” said Faleiro, a former union minister of state for external affairs.

Faleiro said language and communication was a major hindrance for Goan job seekers in the Gulf.

“With this crash course, they will be able to get their way around the city and converse functionally, which is essential when you are in a foreign land,” Faleiro said.

According to data available with the Goa NRI cell, the state ranks second only to Kerala in job-related migration to Arabic-speaking Gulf countries.