By IANS
New Delhi : Unscrupulous recruiting agents (RAs), who exploit Indian workers going abroad in search of employment, may invite direct action from the government if the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) has its way.
“We intend to have a prosecution clause included once the amended Emigration Act (1983) gets through so that my ministry can act directly against such erring agents,” Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said while speaking at a function here Tuesday where a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the MOIA and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
“As of now, only state governments can take action to prosecute unscrupulous agents,” he said.
He said that whenever the MOIA receives complaints of exploitation of Indian workers abroad, it immediately writes to the state government concerned – from where the worker hails – with a request to take action against the erring RA.
“I hope state governments will start work immediately to start prosecution when such cases are pointed out,” he said.
The process of computerisation of the eight Protector of Emigrants (PoE) offices in the country would also go a long way in checking the illegal activities of RAs, he said, adding, “Once all the PoE offices are computerised, these will be linked with the airports, so that problems like fake visa are checked.”
Ravi also said that he was particularly concerned about exploitation of women workers, most of whom go abroad to work as domestic help.
Stating that there is already a ban on women workers under 30 emigrating abroad to work as domestic help, he said, “We don’t want to completely ban the emigration of women workers but actually check it.”
He said that in order to curb the menace of exploitation of Indian women workers abroad, the MOIA had set up a helpline already.
“Additionally, we are trying to ensure that any lady who works as domestic help (anywhere abroad) should have direct telephone access to the Indian mission in that country,” he said.
Stating that the MOIA has already signed labour welfare pacts with Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ravi said, “The agreement with Malaysia is nearly complete. Bahrain and Oman have also agreed to sign to similar agreements with us.”
The minister said that the amended Emigration Act 1983, which has several clauses for safeguarding the interests Indian workers overseas, has been cleared by all ministries concerned and is now awaiting cabinet approval.
“The amended act is at the last stage of being cleared,” he said.
“The whole purpose is to ensure that our workers are respected in the countries where they work,” Ravi said.