India, Kuwait to ink pact to end labour abuse

New Delhi, Sept 24: India and Kuwait are enganged in serious negotiations to conclude a new labour agreement that would end harassment, exploitation and abuse of Indian expatriate workers by their employers in the Gulf nation.

According to official sources, the move is aimed providing relief to thousands of Indian nationals working in Kuwait as also to enable them claim their dues without any hassle.

Negotiations on the agreement have aldready started, the sources said.

The pact is aimed at institutionalising services and protecting the interests of workers in view of complaints by many of harassment and abuse by their employers.

Indians are largest expatriate community in Kuwait with over 500,000 Indian nationals engaged in various jobs there.

A labour agreement is a complicated issue as it has implications for the doemstic affairs of the host country and requires it amend its laws, the Kuwait Times reported quoting official sources.

India had already concluded a labour agreement with Qatar.

Similar accords are being proposed to be signed with four other gulf countries -- the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain.

The expatriate workers mainly suffer non-payment of wages and improper working conditions.

Bilateral relations between the two countries saw a major boost after the visit of Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed in June.

The two sides set up six groups to focus on cooperation in security, science and technology and IT.

UNI