India, Malaysia to sign MoU on emigrant workers: Cabinet

New Delhi, Mar 20 (UNI) The Cabinet today gave its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malaysia on employment of workers that would benefit the Indian emigrant workers of all categories -- unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers.

The proposed MoU would facilitate employment of workers and specify a broad procedure for the exercise and spell out the responsibilities of the employers, workers and recruitment agencies, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters.

The approval assumes significance as the condition of Indian workers in Malaysia is far from satisfactory. Complaints about ill treatment and exploitation of workers have been received in the past. The MoU would lay down a framework of bilateral co-operation for the promotion of employment and protection and welfare of Indian workers.

The MoU would result in co-operation in pre-departure orientation and skill up-gradation training and take care of protection and welfare of all categories of workers under the labour laws and other relevant laws of the host country.

A Joint Working Group would be constituted to implement the MoU in general and to perform the following functions in particular: * to review employment opportunities and availability of corresponding skills in both countries; * to explore new avenues for co-operation in the field of Labour and Manpower Development for mutual benefit; * to co-ordinate between the two parties in the implement of this MoU and take such further action as may be found necessary.

Malaysia is an important destination for Indian workers. There are about 1.37 lakh Indian workers in Malaysia out of about 2 million foreign workers in Malaysia. Most of the workers go there to work in the plantation and construction sectors.

UNI SN MSJ DB2021