The movement of Indian workers to Gulf countries started in the seventies. Now this population has increased to more than 87 lakhs. But the migrants who have come here to earn better are not in a good condition. Saudi Arabia is now bringing a new law to correct the injustice being done to the workers to some extent. With the implementation of the Migrant Domestic Workers Law, the Kafala system responsible for inhuman conditions will be completely abolished.
Which countries are included in the Gulf
The countries whose borders meet the Persian Gulf are called Gulf countries. These include 6 countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. Although Iran and Iraq are also connected to the Persian Gulf, they are not a part of the Gulf Cooperation Council, nor do many Indians go here to work.
How many Indians are there in the Gulf?
The Ministry of External Affairs had said in response to an RTI that about 10.34 million NRIs are living in more than 200 countries. Among them, about 3.5 million are in UAE, 2.59 million in Saudi Arabia, 1.02 in Kuwait, 74 lakh in Qatar, 7 lakh in Oman, while 3.25 lakh Indians are in Bahrain.
After the oil boom in the seventies, these countries started developing rapidly. Especially infrastructure grew rapidly. People also started looking for help for household chores. In such a situation, Indian workers were a good option. They were also ready to come, and did more work for less money compared to workers from other countries. Now the salary bracket is fixed but it is rarely followed.
Indian workers are dying continuously
Data can give an idea of how the people who go to work from our country live there. Between 2014 and 2023, about 63 lakh workers were badly injured while working. In the year 2022, more than 6 thousand workers died. The death toll is constantly increasing. During the question-answer session in the Lok Sabha, it was told that the highest number of deaths were seen in Saudi Arabia, where about 11 thousand such workers died in a year, who had gone from India in perfect health.
Who are migrant domestic workers?
Now the Migrant Domestic Workers Act will come in the labour laws of these countries. This is the category of workers who work at homes or for homes. For example, in Saudi, 14 types of people come under this category. These include domestic help, drivers, maids, nurses, tailors, farmers, physiotherapists and people who provide speech-hearing therapy. According to the data, currently there are 20 lakh people in the servant and house cleaner sub-category, out of which 60 percent are women. At the same time, men are hired for the job of a driver.
What is the Kafala system
It is believed that foreign workers are suffering losses because of this. If we try to understand the bookish definition of Kafala, it is a sponsorship system that takes place between a foreign worker and his local sponsor. In this, the employer is called Kafeel, to whom the government of Kuwait or other Gulf countries gives the right of sponsorship permit. Kafeel is often a factory owner. Through the permit, he can call foreign workers to his place. In return, they pay for the worker’s travel, accommodation and food.
In which countries is this system
Kafala is seen in all the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan and Lebanon. This system has been embroiled in continuous controversies.
what is wrong in this
This gives the employer too much power over his employee. In simple words, the worker becomes a slave of his employer. His working hours are very long and the salary is not fixed. Many employers even keep the passports of their workers with them so that they cannot run away. They are not even allowed to have a phone or go out of the work area. They do not get leave on any day of the week. They cannot even return to their country because their passports have been confiscated.
Is it banned in any country?
When the issue was raised in the United Nations, many countries talked about ending Kafala, but it could not be completely stopped. The owners cram the workers inside the factory so that they can get work done whenever they want. The governments of the Gulf countries benefit from the fact that production continues at a low cost. The American think tank – Council on Foreign Relations also did a big report on the Kafala system. After a lot of hue and cry, Bahrain and Qatar said that it has been stopped in their countries.
and what other dangers
– As soon as a worker reaches Gulf countries under Kafala, all his documents are taken away. They do not even have a phone so that they can report any incident that happens to them.
– Foreign workers are kept inside the factory so that they can work for 15-16 hours. Up to two dozen people are crammed into one room.
– Visa trading is also a big problem. The sponsor sells the visa of a worker to someone else. This happens illegally. The new owner can get more laborious or risky work done at a lower price.
– Since this system does not come under the Labor Ministry, workers have no rights or protection from risks. They need permission from a sponsor to take leave, leave work or leave the country.
What will happen when the new law comes
Under the new law, workers cannot be made to work for more than 10 hours. They will also get a weekly holiday. The sponsor will not be able to keep their documents, such as passports. In certain circumstances, the worker will have the right to leave the job. Every year he will get one month of paid leave, and the employer will also bear the cost of travel to and from the country.
Saudi Arabia has accepted all these things under the Wage Protection System from July itself and it will be implemented by the end of the year 2025.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)