Lok Sabha Question No. 2781 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-10
Subject: Unpaid Workers in Gulf
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2781 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.07.2019

## UNPAID WORKERS IN GULF

## 2781. SHRI  NARANBHAI  KACHHADIYA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a  large   number   of   migrant   workers   in   Qatar   and   Gulf Nations have gone unpaid in past days and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to resolve this issue;
- (b) the   measures   undertaken   by   the   Government   to   ensure   the protection of interests of Indian migrant workers in Gulf nations;
- (c) whether the Government has identified the reasons behind such problems which persist despite reforms like the introduction of a Wage Protection System and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether   any   special   provision   has   been   made   to   promote   the welfare of women workers and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) From time to time, the Indian Missions in Gulf countries, including Qatar, receive complaints regarding non-payment of wages/salaries of Indian migrant workers in these countries.  Compared to the proportion of Indian workers in Gulf countries, such complaints are marginal. As soon as such complaints   are   received,   the   concerned   Indian   Missions   actively follow up the matter with local sponsors and authorities concerned to ensure that the workers are paid their due wages/salaries.

- (b) The Government has taken several steps to ensure the protection of the interests of Indian workers in Gulf countries, including the following:
- (i) The   on-line   MADAD   and   e-Migrate   portals   enable   the   emigrant workers and their family members to register their grievances online and track their redressal.
- (ii) A multi-lingual 24X7 Helpline of Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra (PBSK) in New Delhi and other PBSKs in Dubai (UAE), Sharjah (UAE), Riyadh,   Jeddah   (Kingdom   of   Saudi   Arabia)   and   Kuala   Lumpur (Malaysia), provides information, guidance and grievance redressal

on all issues and problems pertaining to overseas employment of Indian nationals. The PBSKs further send these grievances to eMigrate and MADAD portals which are accessible to all Protector of Emigrants (PoEs) and Indian Missions.

- (iii) Labour and Manpower Cooperation MoUs/Agreements are in place with the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries that provide the institutional framework to comprehensively discuss and review labour related issues.  In accordance with the Labour and Manpower Cooperation/Agreement, Joint Working Group (JWG) meetings are held   on   regular   basis   to   discuss   various   labour   related   issues, including payment related issues under working conditions.
- (iv) Missions in ECR countries conduct Open Houses on a regular basis where   workers   can   discuss   their   working   conditions   and   seek redressal of their grievances.
- (v) The terms for usage of Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) which has been created to help Indian nationals in distress, have been further liberalised. From 1 st   September, 2017 the Heads of Mission have been delegated powers for usage of ICWF funds for extending legal assistance on means tested basis.

(c) According to the cases followed up by our Missions in Gulf countries, the main reasons for such problems to persist despite reforms like the introduction of a Wage Protection System, include the following:

- (i) Workers who have gone illegally or through unscrupulous agents.
- (ii) Economic   and   financial   challenges   of   employers,   including bankruptcy in some cases.
- (iii) Disputes   with   sponsors   or   companies   due   to   various   reasons, including amount of salaries to be paid, working conditions, and violation of local laws such as working for someone else than the sponsor.

(d) In order to promote the welfare and protection of women workers, Government has taken further measures in restricting the recruitment of ECR passport holding Indian female workers only through seven State Government  recruiting   agencies   w.e.f.   2 nd August,   2016.   The   foreign employers who intend to recruit Indian female domestic workers directly, have to register themselves on e-Migrate System with the respective Missions and deposit a bank guarantee equivalent to US$2500/-. The age restriction of 30 years has been made mandatory in respect of all women emigrants   with   ECR   passports,   irrespective   of   the   nature/category   of employment. The female domestic workers going through e-Migrate are covered by insurance through Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojana (PBBY). Also, the  Missions   are   proactive   in   providing   medical   and   legal   support   to distressed   Indian   women   workers   and   take   all   possible   measures,

including using the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF), if necessary, for their speedy repatriation to India.

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