The Hindu : National : Antony, Vayalar Ravi deny Malaysian curbs

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Thursday, Jan 10, 2008
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Antony, Vayalar Ravi deny Malaysian curbs

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Malaysia and India have decided to regulate the working conditions of emigrant workers and denied that Kuala Lumpur has banned recruitment of Indian workers.

This was stated by Union Ministers A.K. Antony and Vayalar Ravi after an interaction with senior Malaysian Ministers.

Mr. Antony, who returned from Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, said the issue of better working conditions for migrant workers came up for discussion during meetings with the Malaysian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister but “nobody raised the issue” of curbs on recruitment of workers from India.

Mr. Ravi also made a similar observation on reports of Malaysian restrictions on recruitment, and wanted greater reliance on statements by the Malaysian government, than on reports in a section of the media.

Speaking at the Pravasi Divas, Mr. Ravi said the Indian High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur confirmed that there was no truth in agency reports suggesting that Malaysia had suspended the recruitment of workers from India and Bangladesh with effect from December 31, 2007. The High Commissioner’s report follows a press conference by the Malaysian Home Ministry earlier in the day.

Malaysia had about 1.5 lakh Indian workers, he said and admitted that there were instances of some Indians misusing the visa scheme by over-staying in that country.

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