Anwar Ahmad and T Ramavarman (Khaleej Times) 15 November 2008
ABU DHABI - There will be a meeting of ambassadors from the Gulf and some Asian countries on November 27-28 in New Delhi, where issues relating to the Indian workers will be discussed, according to Vayalar Ravi, the Indian Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs.
“There will be particular focus on the problems of the women domestic helps working abroad and their minimum wages as they differ from country to country,” he said at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi while briefing the media on Thursday.
Also, the Government of India will soon amend the Emigration Act 1983 as part of its efforts to tighten the noose on the unscrupulous recruiting agents engaged in the illegal trafficking of Indians to different countries.
The minister said the Indian Cabinet had already approved the amendment proposals and they would now be presented before the parliament.
The amendments would seek to impose tougher punishments like hefty fines and imprisonment of agents found cheating workers seeking employment abroad.
“A number of steps are being taken by our government to safeguard the rights of Indian workers abroad and to ensure that they move on after complying all the legal procedures,” Ravi said.
There are around 50,000-60,000 housemaids in the UAE and half of them are employed by Indian families.
“The Government of India is particular that the Indian women who are working abroad as domestic helps should get minimum wages and other minimum facilities.
“We have allowed some flexibility in the level of wages saying that it can be between $250 to $300 depending on the wage levels prevailing in each country,’’ the Minister said.
The Indian Consul General, Venu Rajamony who accompanied the minister said the minimum wage that had been fixed for the Indian workers in UAE was Dh 1,100.
The minister also said that the women domestic labourers would have to be provided with a cell phone and they must be in a position to contact the Indian Embassy in the respective countries.
The Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Talmiz Ahmed, said: “There is no adverse effect on the Indian workers in UAE due to the global financial downturn.
“We have not received reports or complaints of delayed or non-payment of wages, or termination of jobs in the UAE particularly in the construction field. We are also monitoring the situation. The liquidity situation in the UAE is far better than the other countries of the world.”
anwar@khaleejtimes.com , ramavarman@khaleejtimes.ae
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