Govt to introduce measures for emigration to Afghanistan

New Delhi, Aug 21 (UNI) Alarmed by the recent incidents of deaths of Indian workers in some countries, the government proposes to include several measures in the employment contract of Indian nationals going to Afghanistan, making employers responsible for their safety and security.

The measures include inclusion of a suitable provision in the employment contract, making the company deploying Indian workers to Afghanistan, responsible for their security.

These also include a special insurance cover at the cost of foreign employer prior to emigration of worker from India and attestation of employment documents from the Indian Mission in Afghanistan in every case.

An official spokesman said Afghanistan is one of the countries for which Emigration Check is required implying that Indians having Emigration Check Required (ECR) endorsed passports, require emigration clearance from the Protector of Emigrants Offices for going to Afghanistan for employment.

As some projects have been approved by the External Affairs Ministry, deployment of workers to such projects has to be permitted. As such, no formal ban on deployment of Indian workers to Afghanistan has been imposed.

Emigration of Indian workers to Afghanistan has been on a lower side in the recent past.

As many as 444 people had obtained emigration clearance upto June 30 this year from the offices of Protectors of Emigrants for employment in Afghanistan.

While 739 people had emigrated in 2005, 552 had emigrated in 2004 and 628 in 2003.

UNI RB SB KN1729