Consulate to take steps to end exploitation of Indian women in UAE

Kochi, Apr 11 (UNI) Consul General of India in Dubai Venu Rajamony today said the Consulate was taking all steps to ensure that Indian women coming for work in the Emirates were not exploited by employers or sponsors.

Talking to newspersons on the sidelines of a function here, Mr Rajamony said ''there were instances when women were taken to UAE for work without proper visas and were forced to work as prostitutes or under inhuman situations.'' The Consulate was in consultation with the Kerala government and Emirates officials to make sure that prospective women employees were aware of the visa structure of that country.

''We have an informal shelter to accomodate women who had run away from their employers or arrested on charges of prostitution.

They would be repatriated by the Consulate with requisite documents,'' he noted.

He said the Kerala government had appointed a nodal officer to look into related cases.

In 2007, 29 women were sent to India after they were arrested on charges of prostitution and 57 housemaids were repatriated through the Consulate, Mr Rajamony added.

UNI MA SJ SP BST0433