Gulf NRIs get special attention by Eugene Correia
Mumbai: Indians in the Persian Gulf region were accorded a special session to deal with their issues and problems. Many representatives from this region -- United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait -- asked that the government look into such issues as exploitation of hoursemaids, cheaper air fares, work contracts, and recruitment agencies. Minister for Overseas Indians Affairs, Jagdish Tytler, was emotional when he spoke of the plight of Indian housemaids in Oman and angry with those people who dupe innocent workers with jobs in the Gulf only to leave them out in the cold. While seeking help from Gulf NRIs in stopping illegal practices of hiring workers under false pretexts,. Tytler said he would not hesitate in cancelling passports of those found guilty of exploiting such workers. He said that the government is thinking of setting up a corporate law office in Dubai to take up cases on behalf of workers who have been wronged. Tytler informed that certain rules have been put in place where the interests of the housemaids have been taken care of, such as proper documentation and also the setting the age limit of 30 years for housemaids who want to work in the Gulf. Issues such as getting NRIs on electoral roles and allotment of quota for children of Gulf NRIs also came for discussion. One delegate pointed out that calling Indians working in the Gulf NRIs was wrong, because they are not settled there but are only on "working contracts." __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Read only the mail you want - Yahoo! Mail SpamGuard. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail