Lok Sabha Question No. 309 (STARRED), answered on 2016-12-07
Subject: Human Rights Violation in Middle East
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: M. B. RAJESH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.309 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2016

## HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION IN MIDDLE EAST

*309. SHRI M.B. RAJESH:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether cases of human rights violation have been reported in various  Indian  Diplomatic  Missions,  from  the  migrant  Indian labourers working in the Middle East;

(b) if  so,  the  nature  of  such  complaints  received  during  the  last three years, country-wise; and

- (c) the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  address  such complaints?

ANSWER THE MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI SUSHMA SWARAJ)

- (a) to (c) A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF  THE LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  309  REGARDING  'HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION IN MIDDLE EAST' FOR ANSWER ON 07.12.2016

No, Madam. Cases of specific human rights violation have not been reported by any Indian Mission in the Middle East.

However, complaints  are  received  from  Indian  emigrants  in  ECR  countries, from  time  to time, regarding violation of contractual  terms,  adverse  working conditions,  wage  related  issues,  employer  related  problems,  medical  and  insurance related  problems  and  compensation/death  claims.  Amidst  the  ongoing  economic downturn in the Gulf countries due to fall in crude oil prices, there are some reports of Indian  workers  being  asked  to  leave  before  completion  of  their  existing  contracts. Instances of unpaid salaries for last few months have also been reported. A statement showing the number of labour related complaints received by Indian Missions in ECR countries in the Middle East during the last three years, country-wise, is at Annexure.

Immediately on receipt of such complaints, the same are addressed by Indian Missions by taking them up with the concerned foreign authorities.  In addition, the Government has taken several steps and initiatives to safeguard the interests of Indian nationals. Labour and Manpower Cooperation MoUs/Agreements are already in place with  the  six  Gulf  Cooperation  Council  (GCC)  countries,  Jordan  and  Malaysia  that provide  the  institutional  framework  to  comprehensively  discuss  and  review  these matters. The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF), aimed at assisting Overseas Indian  nationals  abroad  in  times  of  distress  on  a  means  tested  basis  in  the  most deserving cases, has already been extended to all Indian Missions and Posts abroad. The  Indian  Worker  Resource  Centre  (IWRC)  have  also  been  setup  that  provide guidance and counseling on all matters pertaining to overseas Indian workers. IWRC, Dubai  is  already  functional  and  four  more  IWRCs  have  been  approved  in  Sharjah (UAE), Riyadh and Jeddah (Kingdom  of Saudi Arabia) and  Kuala  Lumpur (Malaysia). Shelter homes for distressed Indian nationals have been setup in Bahrain, Kingdom  of  Saudi  Arabia,  Kuwait,  Qatar,  UAE  and  Malaysia.  Missions  in  Gulf countries  also  conduct  Open  Houses  on  a  regular  basis  where  workers  can  convey their  grievances.    Some  Missions  have  established  24x7  helplines  and  Toll  Free helplines.

The MADAD portal enables the emigrant workers and their family members to  register  their  grievances  online  and  track  their  redressal.  The  multi-lingual  24X7 Helpline  of  Overseas  Workers  Resource  Centre  (OWRC)  in  Gurugram,  Haryana provides information and guidance on all matters and problems pertaining to overseas employment of Indian nationals. Migrant Resource Centres have also been setup in Kochi, Hyderabad Gurugram, Chennai and Lucknow.

The  Government  has  been  making  all  possible  efforts  towards  ensuring welfare and safeguarding the interests of Indian nationals abroad.

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ANNEXURE

## Labour Related Complaints Received by Indian Missions in ECR Countries in the Middle East

| No.   | Name of Mission         | 2013         | 2014   | 2015   | 2016 (October, 2016)   |
|-------|-------------------------|--------------|--------|--------|------------------------|
| 1.    | Bahrain                 | 820          | 821    | 833    | 169                    |
| 2.    | Iraq                    | Not reported | 02     | 04     | 23                     |
| 3.    | Iran                    | 57           | 84     | 83     | 150                    |
| 4.    | Jordan                  | Nil          | Nil    | 03     | Nil                    |
| 5.    | Kuwait                  | 2443         | 3033   | 3493   | 2765                   |
| 6.    | Lebanon                 | Nil          | 86     | 23     | 67                     |
| 7.    | Libya                   | 15           | 06     | 19     | 12                     |
| 8.    | Oman                    | 1748         | 1358   | 1097   | 1929                   |
| 9.    | Qatar                   | 3558         | 3943   | 3868   | 3577                   |
| 10.   | UAE                     | 1104         | 1718   | 1936   | 1870                   |
| II.   | Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | 2866         | 3732   | 2921   | 3677                   |
| 12.   | Syria                   | Nil          | Nil    | Nil    | Nil                    |
| 13.   | Sudan                   | Nil          | Nil    | Nil    | Nil                    |
| 14.   | South Sudan             | Nil          | Nil    | Nil    | Nil                    |
| 15.   | Yemen                   | Nil          | Nil    | Nil    | Nil                    |

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