Dubai, Sep 18 (IANS) The Indian embassy in Bahrain is investigating an Indian worker’s allegation that he has been asked to pay money by his former employee to get back his passport.
Surendran Kambatti came to Bahrain two years ago on a visa provided by a welding service company, but the company asked for Bahraini dinar (BD) 600 after he decided to switch jobs.
The 43-year-old Indian, who has been working for the second company for about six months, said he fears arrest since he cannot legalise his stay through the government’s general amnesty scheme, which was launched last month, Gulf Daily News reported.
Under the amnesty scheme, the Bahraini government has asked all illegal immigrant workers and their employers to regularise their work permits or face heavy penalties.
An Indian embassy official said Kambatti’s case would be looked into and efforts made to get in touch with his sponsor.
He further added that strict action would be taken against sponsors who ask for cash to return passports.
“The labour ministry deals strictly with such employers and it has asked all embassies to submit a list of employers who refuse to hand over workers’ passports and are thereby hampering the amnesty process,” he said.
To avoid exploitation of expat workers, the Bahraini government last week came out with a guidebook to make foreign workers aware of their rights and obligations after they land in Bahrain.
Last month, the Indian mission in Bahrain had blacklisted around 45 local firms for violating the country’s labour laws and denying Indian workers their basic rights. The companies will not be able to recruit any more workers from India.
According to 2001 data, there are approximately 130,000 Indians in Bahrain.