The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Two recruiters’ licence suspended

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Tuesday, Mar 11, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Two recruiters’ licence suspended

G. Anand

Indian workers in the U.S. allege visa fraud

Vayalar Ravi has ordered investigation
Protector of Emigrants to probe case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Union government has suspended the licence of two prominent Mumbai-based labour recruitment agencies in connection with a suspected visa fraud.

Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi told The Hindu that the suspension was ordered on the basis of complaints received from a section of Indian workers in the U.S.

The workers alleged that they had to endure “slave like” working conditions in the labour camp of a major shipping and marine fabrication company in the U.S. after their recruiters “deceived” them.

Over 600 Indian workers, 85 per cent of them hailing from Kerala, had paid the recruiters Rs.10 lakh each in 2006 for permanent resident status (green card) and jobs in the U.S.

The workers, mostly experienced welders and pipe fitters, had quit their jobs in the Gulf and India to take up employment in the U.S.

Many had sold their houses and taken loans to pay the visa fee. They were misled by newspaper advertisements placed by the recruiting firms.

“Guest worker” visas

On reaching the U.S. in 2006, the workers found that they had been issued H2b “guest worker” visas, which allowed them to work only for the shipping company. Their visa had validity of only 10 months and strictly bound them to the terms set by their employers.

The debt-trapped workers could get their visas extended only if their U.S. employers wished so.

Silent suffering

After two years of “silent suffering,” over 100 Indian workers quit the company in March this year and are fighting for their basic rights with the help of a U.S.-based human rights organisation, the New Orleans Workers’ Centre for Racial Justice.

The workers told Mr. Ravi that they were victims of an international human trafficking racket. The Church in New Orleans helped the workers by bringing their plight to public attention.

Mr. Ravi said he has ordered the Protector of Emigrants, Mumbai, to investigate the suspect firms.

He said he had spoken over telephone to some of the agitating workers in the U.S. and also their families in Kerala.

Mr. Ravi said he was expecting a report on the subject from the Indian Embassy in the U.S. He said the Indian Embassy would take up the matter of alleged exploitation of Indian workers with the management of the shipping company.

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