India demands $400 as minimum wages
Dubai,
Jan
22:
India
has
demanded
400
dollars
as
minimum
wages
for
domestic
workers
seeking
jobs
abroad.
Stating that the minimum wages should be clearly stated in the job contract, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vyalar Ravi said, ''India has started implementing its minimum wage plan for domestic workers seeking jobs abroad.'' ''From January 1, we are not giving immigration clearance to domestic workers unless their contracts specifically mention 400 dollars or more as their monthly salary. We are very clear about the decision and we will not allow any domestic worker to leave the country without ensuring that they receive the minimum wage,'' Mr Ravi told Khaleej Times.
''Now, all the employers should contact the Indian missions in the respective countries when they hire domestic workers. Thus, the Indian missions will have records on the whereabouts of these workers,'' he said.
Mr Ravi was here to attend the the two-day ''Ministerial Consultations on Overseas Employment and Contractual Labour for Countries of Origin in Asia: The Abu Dhabi Dialogue''.
The Minister, however, clarified that the government had no plans to introduce minimum wages for other workers.
''We have not considered it yet. But we will make sure that the employers are fulfilling the contractual obligations. We are closely working with the governments of the labour-importing countries,'' he pointed out.
UNI