Thursday, August 17 2006 16:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Concerned over problems faced by Indian workers in Gulf and other countries, Government is proposing to amend the Emigration law to ensure their protection, Rajya Sabha was informed today (Aug 17, 2006).

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said to ensure protection and welfare of Indian workers abroad, a proposal to comprehensively amend the Emigration Act, 1983 is already underway.

The Act deals with emigration of Indian citizens for overseas employment on contractual basis.

The Minister said the Protector-General of emigrants takes measures to ensure the protection and welfare of Indian workers abroad.

Admitting incidents of exploitation of overseas workers, Ravi said the government was taking all measures to prevent such occurences.



On the compensation package for 16 Indian nationals (all from Tamil Nadu) who died in the recent fire in a two-storey building in Bahrain, Ravi said the Tamil Nadu government is providing Rs 2 lakh compensation to the next of the kin of those who died besides Rs five lakh that would come from Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojana.

Stating that several measures had been taken for benefit of Indian workers abroad, he said this included stramlining of the emigration process through E-governance and signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the major labour importing countries.

Besides, a publicity campaign has been launched to create awareness amongst potential overseas workers on their rights and obligations.