New rules to stop abuses of domestic workers in Middle East
In an attempt to curtail abuses by employers, India is going to impose tighter regulations for household workers going abroad.
Currently, there are 1.6 million Indians living and working in Saudi Arabia, of which more than 15,000 women work as maids.
Under the new restrictions, 18 countries including Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries will have to pay a $400 US monthly salary for emigrant workers and provide a $2,500 US security deposit in the form of a bank guarantee.
The new regulations will also set a minimum hiring age of 30 and require employers to provide workers with mobile phones. Employers of women workers, whose passports are marked Emigration Check Required (ECR), will have to register the employer contract with the Indian government before the worker will be able to leave India.
The new measures will cover maids, butlers, cooks and drivers employed in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Libya, Jordan, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Brunei, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
The ministry of overseas affairs has also set up hotlines in the host countries to curb the exploitation of women working abroad.
Currently, there are 1.6 million Indians living and working in Saudi Arabia, of which more than 15,000 women work as maids.
Under the new restrictions, 18 countries including Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries will have to pay a $400 US monthly salary for emigrant workers and provide a $2,500 US security deposit in the form of a bank guarantee.
The new regulations will also set a minimum hiring age of 30 and require employers to provide workers with mobile phones. Employers of women workers, whose passports are marked Emigration Check Required (ECR), will have to register the employer contract with the Indian government before the worker will be able to leave India.
The new measures will cover maids, butlers, cooks and drivers employed in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Libya, Jordan, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Brunei, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
The ministry of overseas affairs has also set up hotlines in the host countries to curb the exploitation of women working abroad.
