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Steps to protect Indian workers, says Vayalar Ravi

Atul Aneja

DUBAI: The visiting Minister for Overseas Affairs, Vayalar Ravi has said that efforts were being made to protect workers seeking employment in Gulf countries from unscrupulous agents. "We have to tighten rules of recruitment for Indian workers," Mr. Ravi who is on a visit to three Gulf states said.

"We have to break the nexus between agents in India and their backers in the Gulf countries," he said. This would, however, require the cooperation of several countries and coordination among the various state governments in India.

As part of his Gulf tour, the Minister has already visited Bahrain and would travel to Saudi Arabia after completing his stay in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Mr. Ravi visited the Indian consulate in Dubai and praised the work of Indian consul-general Yash Sinha. The Dubai consulate handles over 2,500 transactions a day, and is one of the busiest among Indian missions.

Asked to comment on the Indian labourers who recently went on a rampage at a prominent construction area in Dubai, the Minister said, "Violence of any sort is not welcomed. The Indian workforce enjoys a reputation of being peace-loving."

Mr. Ravi said that the government was planning to start a Pravasi Indian University in India, which would cater exclusively for non-resident Indians.

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