Most Indians in Gulf states are staying put as war continues. Can a new bill protect their rights?
· Scroll
The war in West Asia has cast a spotlight on India’s interests in the region. While the disruption of energy supply and maritime trade have taken precedence, the fate of 10 million Indians who work in Gulf countries has found little mention in public discourse.
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The reason for this is not hard to ascertain. The overwhelming majority of Indians in the Gulf are low-income, blue collar workers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Parliament on March 24 that 3.75 lakh Indians have returned from the region since the war began. The majority of them are white-collar professionals.
Experts warn that a continuation of the conflict could result in an economic slowdown in the region, resulting in fewer jobs and lower wages. Hence, blue-collar workers have decided to stay put, taking their chances with drones and ballistic missiles flying overhead. The Ministry of External Affairs said at least seven Indians have died in the Gulf states since the war began.
The immediate tasks for New Delhi are to increase diplomatic efforts towards ending hostilities in the region and working with its counterparts in the region to ensure Indians are safe. However, this episode highlights the policy neglect of Indian workers overseas.
A new bill
The main instrument governing labour migration overseas is the Indian Emigration Act 1983. In October, when the...