DUBAI, Oct 28 (PTI): India and Oman will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on labour, employment, and man power in December, according to Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi.
An Indian delegation had visited Muscat last month at the invitation of the Ministry of Manpower and held talks with Omani officials on labour issues. Discussions were fruitful and the MoU, which is likely to be signed soon, will essentially focus on the interests of Indian workers in Oman.
"It will help authorities regulate recruitment, sponsorship and workers' rights," the minister told the Times of Oman.
The minister will be meeting Juma bin Ali bin Juma, Oman's minister of manpower Saturday. The minister is on a visit to the Gulf countries having already visiting the UAE and Bahrain.
The ministry in order to curb the exploitation of Indian women workers abroad had initiated a series of measures: Indian household service workers (HSWs) - males or females - should be paid a minimum salary of USD 400 a month.
Emigration clearance will not be given to anyone going abroad as domestic help if the salary is below USD 400 a month.
Concerned with the increase in the number of Indians reaching the Gulf countries without proper job documents, Ravi said the Indian government and the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs are committed to bring about a quick solution to the problems plaguing NRI workers in the Gulf.
The Indian government would withdraw licences of unscrupulous recruitment agencies and impose penalties under the Emigration Act, he said.
India has more than 1,800 licenced recruiting agencies. Agencies involved in human trafficking, he said, will face the consequences.
India, Oman to sign labour MoU
FE Team | Published: October 29, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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