India to sign labour agreement with Gulf countries

New Delhi, Nov 7: Amid reports of cheating and harassment of migrant workers abroad, India has been negotiating with major labour receiving countries to enter into a bilateral labour agreement or Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) in the interest of promotion of overseas employment of Indian workers and protecton of their rights.

''Bilateral agreements formalise government-to-government engagement and can facilitate better management of international migration as an orderly and humane process aimed at benefiting both countries apart from the emigrants,'' Overseas Indian Affairs (OIA) Minister Vayalar Ravi told mediapersons at an interaction at the All India Economic Editors' Conference organised here by the Press Information Bureau.

He said such agreements provided both countries a platform for implementing best practices, findng practical solutions to migrants problems and preventing irregular migration.

Mr Ravi said his ministry had initiated the process for signing agreements or MoUs with Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwai, Oman and Bahrain. ''The process is at an advanced stage in the case of Kuwait.'' In this context, he pointed out that a tentative draft was agreed upon by India and Kuwait. However, the concurrence of Kuwait side on a particular article relating to protection of Indians working in the unorganised sector in that country was awaited. ''I hope that the agreement would be finalised within this financial year.'' The OIA ministry had prepared a draft labour agreement to initiate negotiations with the remaining five countries. The single most important consideration that had gone into the making of the draft model agreement was the concern for ensurng the welfare of Indian workers during such overseas employment.

The draft seeks to lay special emphasis on formal employment contract as a precondition before departure of the worker. The contract will not be altered except with the permission of mission to enhance the workers benefits. The counter signature of the recruiting agent on the contract and the registration of every worker with the Indian mission by the foreign employer are to be made compulsory.

The host country should take legislative and administrative measures to promote welfare of the workers in the unorganised sector.

There are about five million overseas Indian workers with 90 per cent of them being in the Gulf countries and Malaysia. Kerala had sent the largest contingent of 125,000 workers for overseas jobs, followed by Tamil Nadu-117,000 and Karnataka-75,000.

UNI