The Hindu : National : Over 5,000 Indians employed in Iraq

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 23, 2004

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Over 5,000 Indians employed in Iraq

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 22. More than 5,000 Indians are employed, a majority of them illegally, in Iraq despite a Government ban on going there due to the prevailing situation. Only 350 Indians have been granted permission to work on a project there.

The rest have gone without the mandatory clearance from the Protector-General of Emigrants or have moved to Iraq from neighbouring countries.

Directive to mission

According to Labour Ministry officials, most of the emigrants to Iraq and its neighbouring countries have gone through private recruitment agencies. The Government has suspended clearance to Indians going to Iraq from April 15 and to Jordan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates from May 17 this year. The Indian mission in Baghdad has been asked to keep in close contact with the Iraqi Government to ensure the safety and well-being of Indians there and to facilitate those wanting to return home.

The Indian missions in Jordan and Kuwait have also contacted local companies who have deployed Indians at their work sites in Iraq. Besides, officials in the Indian embassy at Baghdad have visited some camps having Indian workers.

Earlier, taking note of the "illegal recruitment of ex-servicemen by private agencies for providing security to various installations in Iraq," the External Affairs Ministry directed the Protector-General of Emigrants to ban such recruitments and take strict action against the erring employment agencies. The Government has also placed under suspension the provision of Emigration Clearance Not Required (ECNR) certificates for Indians travelling to Iraq.

Erring agencies warned

Labour Ministry officials said show-cause notice had been issued and first information reports (FIRs) registered against the private employment agencies for violating rules while some foreign companies indulging in taking Indians to Iraq illegally have been blacklisted. Reports suggest that the emigrants are often taken to countries neighbouring Iraq from where they are "smuggled" into Iraq either with their consent by offering lucrative perks or by forcing them to do so after "confiscating" their travel documents, including the passport.

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