By SOMAN BABY
Published: 11th August 2007
BAHRAIN is seriously studying a proposal to sign a labour pact with India aimed at securing the rights of employees, it has been revealed. The Indian government is finalising labour pacts with several countries and it has already signed the bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) on labour welfare with Kuwait and the UAE. Oman, Qatar and Malaysia have agreed to follow suit.
The proposal is now being studied by the Bahrain government’s legal department, said Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi.
“We hope to get a green signal from the department and to sign an MoU with the Indian government soon,” he told the GDN.
By SOMAN BABY
Published: 11th August 2007
BAHRAIN is seriously studying a proposal to sign a labour pact with India aimed at securing the rights of employees, it has been revealed. The Indian government is finalising labour pacts with several countries and it has already signed the bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) on labour welfare with Kuwait and the UAE. Oman, Qatar and Malaysia have agreed to follow suit.
The proposal is now being studied by the Bahrain government’s legal department, said Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi.
“We hope to get a green signal from the department and to sign an MoU with the Indian government soon,” he told the GDN.
During a recent meeting with Dr Al Alawi, Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty stressed the importance of signing the labour pact.
Last week, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said all women holding Emigration Clearance Required passports would be banned from going for employment to countries which do not sign the labour pact.
He said the government was particularly concerned about exploitation of women workers in the Gulf.
The need for labour pacts with the Gulf countries and minimum salary for workers was discussed at a meeting of the Indian ambassadors to the Gulf in Doha in March last year.
On the Indian government’s plan to fix a minimum wage of $250 (BD94) for maids and other domestic workers in 18 countries, including Bahrain, Dr Al Alawi said the Indian government has every right to implement laws to protect the interest of their workers abroad.
“However, it is up to the employers here to decide on the wages, as per a contractual agreement with the employee,” he noted.
Dr Al Alawi said he has written to all embassies of labour exporting countries to support the general amnesty, which came into force in Bahrain on August 1.
“The amnesty is a reflection of the Bahrain government’s concern for expatriate workers,” he added.
“We value the contributions of the expatriate workers for the development of our country, and we are keen to see that all of them stay in this country legally.”
soman@gdn.com.bh
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