ID :
40052
Sun, 01/11/2009 - 16:31
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/40052
The shortlink copeid
Fund to help Indian workers abroad set up
New Delhi, Jan 11 (PTI) With increasing number of Indians
facing harassment abroad, the Indian government has set up a
welfare fund at various Indian missions -- mainly in the Gulf
region-- to help such workers in times of difficulty.
The Indian Community Welfare Fund, which came into effect
from January one, would be used for extending help and
cooperation to distressed and underprivileged Indian workers
mainly in Gulf countries.
"The Fund has been set up to equip the missions better in
ensuring protection and welfare of overseas Indian workers in
the ECR (Emigration Check Required) countries," Overseas
Indian Affairs Ministry Secretary K Mohandas told PTI.
The requirement for such a fund at the Indian missions in
ECR countries, home to a sizeable number of Indian workers,
had been long felt because of increase in number of harassment
cases and ill treatment of Indian workers by their employers.
Mohandas said the Fund will help the missions extend a
host of welfare services to Indians in distress and in need.
He said setting up of the Fund is part of efforts to
protect the interests of the genuine migrants.
Emigration clearance for Indians is required in 17
countries of which 12 are in the Gulf region including Qatar,
Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.
The Ministry has plans to amend the Emigration Rules to
revamp the recruiting agent system.
It is also working on an e-governance project to
transform the emigration system by designing an integrated
process connecting all stakeholders and activities in the
migration process.
It has already set up an Overseas Workers' Resource
Centre in New Delhi to provide need based information among
the intending emigrants about the legal process of emigration,
the pitfalls of illegal emigration and the precautions to be
exercised.
A helpline was also launched to provide the emigrants and
their families necessary information and assistance.
Officials said the Ministry has signed an MoU with the
Punjab government to work together on preventing illegal
migration and will be launching a series of measures in this
regard.
The Ministry has already signed an MoU with the UAE and
Kuwait for bilateral cooperation for the protection and
welfare of Indian workers.
An additional protocol has been signed with the
Government of Qatar to supplement the existing bilateral
labour agreement.
India earlier this month signed a bi-lateral labour
mobility agreement with Malaysia aimed at improving the
recruitment, employment conditions of workers and promote
legal migration.
With the agreement, both countries hope to reduce the
activities of unscrupulous recruitment agents and provide
workers a fair deal as far as working terms and conditions and
promises about compensations are concerned. PTI MPB
RKM
NNNN
facing harassment abroad, the Indian government has set up a
welfare fund at various Indian missions -- mainly in the Gulf
region-- to help such workers in times of difficulty.
The Indian Community Welfare Fund, which came into effect
from January one, would be used for extending help and
cooperation to distressed and underprivileged Indian workers
mainly in Gulf countries.
"The Fund has been set up to equip the missions better in
ensuring protection and welfare of overseas Indian workers in
the ECR (Emigration Check Required) countries," Overseas
Indian Affairs Ministry Secretary K Mohandas told PTI.
The requirement for such a fund at the Indian missions in
ECR countries, home to a sizeable number of Indian workers,
had been long felt because of increase in number of harassment
cases and ill treatment of Indian workers by their employers.
Mohandas said the Fund will help the missions extend a
host of welfare services to Indians in distress and in need.
He said setting up of the Fund is part of efforts to
protect the interests of the genuine migrants.
Emigration clearance for Indians is required in 17
countries of which 12 are in the Gulf region including Qatar,
Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.
The Ministry has plans to amend the Emigration Rules to
revamp the recruiting agent system.
It is also working on an e-governance project to
transform the emigration system by designing an integrated
process connecting all stakeholders and activities in the
migration process.
It has already set up an Overseas Workers' Resource
Centre in New Delhi to provide need based information among
the intending emigrants about the legal process of emigration,
the pitfalls of illegal emigration and the precautions to be
exercised.
A helpline was also launched to provide the emigrants and
their families necessary information and assistance.
Officials said the Ministry has signed an MoU with the
Punjab government to work together on preventing illegal
migration and will be launching a series of measures in this
regard.
The Ministry has already signed an MoU with the UAE and
Kuwait for bilateral cooperation for the protection and
welfare of Indian workers.
An additional protocol has been signed with the
Government of Qatar to supplement the existing bilateral
labour agreement.
India earlier this month signed a bi-lateral labour
mobility agreement with Malaysia aimed at improving the
recruitment, employment conditions of workers and promote
legal migration.
With the agreement, both countries hope to reduce the
activities of unscrupulous recruitment agents and provide
workers a fair deal as far as working terms and conditions and
promises about compensations are concerned. PTI MPB
RKM
NNNN
