Labour Partnership with Denmark

LOK SABHA

The Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Labour Mobility Partnership with Denmark on 29th September, 2009.The objective of the MOU is to promote orderly migration of workers from India to meet the growing demand for skilled and trained workers in the Danish economy and to prevent illegal migration and the smuggling of people for financial benefits.

The proposed MOU provides for cooperation between the two countries concerning the branches -- (a) labour market expansion, (b) employment facilitation, (c)organized entry and orderly migration and (d) exchange of information and cooperation in introducing best practices for mutual benefit of labour and employment for qualified workers within their national objectives and the relevant laws; equal treatment of workers with the nationals of the receiving state; undertaking mutually beneficial studies for recruitment and identifying emerging sectors in Danish economy which require qualified workers; promoting direct contact between the employers in Denmark and the state managed or private recruiting agencies in India without intermediaries to facilitate regular and orderly recruitment of workers; protection and welfare of all categories of workers under the labour laws and other relevant laws of the host country.

The MOU also provides for constitution of a Joint Working Group of both the countries, which will study employment opportunities and suggest means for enhancing cooperation between states; interpret the provisions of the memorandum of understanding and oversee its implementation; create guidance material on rights and duties of employers and workers to minimize labour disputes and create information material about the existing system for dispute settlement; suggest amendments to the MOU for better achievements of its objectives; recommend measures to prevent misuse of visit visas by unscrupulous employers and recruiting agencies and recommend initiatives to address any issues that might arise in the context of the MOU. The Danish Embassy in New Delhi has set up a Work in Denmark Centre in New Delhi to facilitate the recruitment of Indians to work in Denmark.

This information was given by the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Vayalar Ravi in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

PKM