Question : EXPLOITATION OF INDIAN LABOURERS

(a) whether the Government is aware of the exploitation of Indian workers in middle east and other countries:

(b) if so, the details thereof and the number of such cases reported in each mission in the foreign countries including middle east countries in the last three years;

(c) whether the victims in all such cases have returned to India and the details of pending cases if any;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the missions are facing problems in handling such cases; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS (SHRI VAYALAR RAVI)

(a) & (b): The information received from the Indian Missions abroad is given in the Annexure. Further, Indian missions in the Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries have informed that from time to time complaints of diverse nature are received in the missions which relate to contractual violations. These include non-payment or delay in payment of salary / wages and other benefits, refusal of leave etc.

(c) & (d): Only some of the workers, and not all return on this account. Such data of returnees are not maintained

(e): The Indian Mission tries to resolve the complaints by promptly taking up the matter with foreign companies/sponsor and accordingly many complaints are settled at this stage itself. However, when the redressal is sought through the local Labour Courts, the settlement gets delayed due to procedural formalities. Missions have felt that the grievance redressal system takes long time to resolve issues at various stages, particularly in absence of proper employment agreement.

(f) The Government has taken several steps to address the issue of Indian emigrants, which include the following: -

(i) Nation-wide awareness campaigns through media to educate intending emigrants about legal emigration procedures, risk of illegal migration and precautions to be taken during emigration.

(ii) The Government has established an Overseas Workers Resource Centre (OWRC) which is a 24 hour telephone helpline in eight languages to provide authentic information to intending emigrants as well as to emigrants on all aspects of emigration.

(iii) The Government has established Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) in all missions to provide onsite support to the affected emigrants.

(iv) Government has established an Indian Workers Resource Centre (IWRC) at UAE.

(v) The Government has signed MOUs with seven major labour receiving countries to lay down the framework for bilateral cooperation for protection and welfare of workers.

(vi) The Ministry revised the Emigration (Amendment) Rules 2009 w.e.f. 9th July, 2009 revising the eligibility criteria of Recruiting Agents (RAs).

(vii) In case, the involvement of a recruiting agent is reported then action under Emigration Act, 1983 is taken. Moreover, black-listing of a recalcitrant employer is also resorted to.