A large number of Indians are working
in the Gulf countries. The details of Indians in Gulf Countries are as given
below: -
Country
|
No.
of Indian working (approx. in Lakhs)
|
Bahrain
|
4.00
|
Kuwait
|
6.41
|
Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia
|
18
- 20
|
Oman
|
5.81
|
Qatar
|
4.50
|
UAE
|
17.50
|
Complaints
received from some workers are generally in the nature of ill-treatment and
harassment, non-payment of agreed salaries/ dues, contractual violations, refusal
of leave or exit/re-entry permits, withholding of passports etc. The number of cases
reported are as under:
Country
|
Year
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
Bahrain
|
1427
|
1384
|
1163
|
Kuwait
|
3560
|
4363
|
2851
|
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
|
5306
|
5250
|
3656
|
Oman
|
5221
|
2225
|
2889
|
Qatar
|
2165
|
3034
|
3186
|
UAE
|
2316
|
1036
|
1588
|
The Government has taken several steps
to address the issue of Indian emigrants, which include the following:
(i) Nation-wide awareness campaigns through
the media to educate intending emigrants about legal emigration procedures, the
risk of illegal migration and precautions to be taken during emigration.
(ii) 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 emigrants as well as intending emigrants on all aspects of
emigration.
(iii) The
Government has established Indian Community Welfare Funds (ICWF) in all Indian
Missions to provide onsite support to the affected emigrants.
(iv) Government
has established an Indian Workers Resource Centre(IWRC)
in the UAE.
(v) The
Government has signed MOUs with seven major labour receiving countries to lay
down a framework for bilateral cooperation for the protection and welfare of
workers.
(vi) The Ministry revised the Emigration (Amendment) Rules, 2009 w.e.f 9th July, 2009 revising the eligibility criteria for
Recruiting Agents (RAs).
(vii) In case, the involvement of a recruiting
agent to cheat and exploit the worker is reported, then action under Emigration
Act, 1983 is taken. Besides, the
blacklisting of recalcitrant employers is also resorted to.
(viii) Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojana
(PBBY) is a compulsory Insurance Scheme for the protection of emigrant workers.
(ix) Some missions hold awareness camps and
medical camps and visit Jails, hospital and labour camps. The missions also
operate shelter homes for women emigrants/ runaway maids.
This
information was given by the Minister of Overseas Indian Affair, Shri Vayalar Ravi in a written
reply in the Rajya Sabha
today.
PKM