Protection for migrant women workers

Rajya Sabha

The Government has taken various measures for protecting the safety and welfare of women migrant workers in different countries. These include:

(i) Age restriction of 30 years has been made mandatory in respect of all women emigrants emigrating on ECR passports to ECR countries, irrespective of the nature / category of employment.

(ii) The employment contract must be duly attested by the Indian Missions in respect of all women holding ECR passports and emigrating to ECR countries.

(iii) Women household workers must be paid a minimum wage in the range of US $ 300-350, as fixed by the Indian Missions in the ECR countries, with due regard to the market wage. A pre-paid mobile facility must be provided by the employer to every woman Household Service Worker. If the Foreign Employer recruits the worker directly, he is required to deposit a security of $2500 in the form of a Bank Guarantee with the Mission.

(iv) The Ministry has set up the Overseas Workers Resource Centre (OWRC) with a 24x7 Helpline to enable emigrant workers / prospective emigrants including women to obtain information on all emigration related matters and seek redressal of their complaints against Recruiting Agents / Foreign Employers.

(v) The Missions abroad are setting up Indian Workers Resource Centre (IWRC) in the host countries to provide information and assistance to emigrants including women emigrants.

(vi) The Ministry has also launched a vigorous Awareness – cum - Publicity Campaign through the print and electronic media to sensitize potential emigrant workers including women emigrants about legal emigration process and hazards of illegal emigration.

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

PKM