Measures to Protect Welfare of Overseas Indian Workers

           Complaints regarding non-delayed- payment of salaries, non-renewal of visa, and unsatisfactory living conditions; and refusal of  medical treatment, leave or air ticket on completion of two years period of contract from Indian emigrants are received from time to time. Whenever a complaint is received, action is initiated by the Ministry by asking the concerned Indian Mission to look into the matter. If need be, steps are taken for the suspension or cancellation of the Registration Certificate of the Recruiting Agent. If required, requisite legal action is also initiated against the concerned Recruiting Agent. Complaints filed against illegal agents are referred to the State Governments. When there is a complaint against a foreign employer, proceedings for blacklisting such an employer are initiated. Indian Missions also take up these issues with the foreign employers/local governments to protect the welfare of the workers.

      The Government has taken several initiatives to protect the welfare of Overseas Indian Workers which inter alia include:

(i)         A Nation - wide Awareness-cum-Publicity Campaign through media is carried out to educate intending emigrants about legal emigration procedures, risk of illegal migration and precautions to be taken during emigration.

(ii)      The Ministry has notified the Emigration (Amendment) Rules 2009 on 9th July, 2009 revising the eligibility criteria of Recruiting Agents (RAs) and increasing the security amount and service charges.

(iii)     The Ministry has set up the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) in all the Indian Missions for providing onsite support and financial assistance to Indian workers in distress.

(iv)     The Government has established an Overseas Workers Resource Centre (OWRC) which is a 24 hour telephone helpline in eight languages to provide authentic information to intending emigrants as well as emigrants on all aspects of emigration. 

(v)      Indian Workers’ Resource Centre (IWRC) is also functioning at Dubai for taking care of the emergency needs of Indian workers.

(vi)     India had signed Labour Agreements with Jordan and Qatar in the 1980s to protect the interests of the Indian Workers. Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) were signed with United Arab Emirates (UAE) in December, 2006, with Kuwait in April, 2007, with Oman in November 2008, with Malaysia in January 2009, and with Bahrain in June 2009.

            An Additional Protocol to the existing Labour Agreement between India and Qatar was signed in November, 2007.

          These MOUs enhance bilateral co-operation in the management of migration and protection of labour welfare. Under these MOUs Joint Working Groups (JWG) have been constituted that meet regularly in order to resolve bilateral labour issues.

(vii)    In addition, the Government has taken the following measures for protecting the safety and welfare of women workers of the ECR (Emigration Check Required) category to emigrate to 17 ECR notified countries: -

(1)      Minimum Age limit of 30 years has been made mandatory in respect of all intending women emigrants.

(2)      The employment contract must be duly attested by the Indian Missions in respect of all such women.

(3)      Women household workers are allowed to emigrate after the Indian mission has attested the identity of the foreign employer and terms and conditions of the contract.

(4)      A pre-paid mobile facility must be provided by the employer to every woman Household Worker.

(5)        The Foreign Employer recruiting a woman household worker is required to deposit a security amount of $2500 with the Indian Mission.

            The Indian Missions in Middle East Countries have reported that they are not aware of the death of persons who have been sent to those countries fraudulently.   However, the data of Indians who died in these countries is as below.

Country	2009	2010	2011	2012(till July)
Saudi Arabia	1729	1855	1954	437
Kuwait	458	453	459	NA
UAE	1688	1498	1307	435 (upto May)
Oman	543	539	522	248(upto May)
Qatar	262	233	239	NA
Bahrain	1042
Libya	15	27	08	02
Lebanon	nil	06	07	01
Syria	08	08	09	08

This information was given by the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Vayalar Ravi in a written reply in the Lok Sabha