Work card to become mandatory

Smart cards will be mandatory for Indian labourers coming to work in the UAE and the Gulf.

CHENNAI // Smart cards containing vital employment information will be mandatory for Indian labourers coming to work in the UAE and the rest of the Gulf from June. The measure was announced yesterday by Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister, who spoke at the inaugural session of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, a three-day gathering including Indians from abroad to discuss issues such as trade and culture. "Every worker will be issued a smart card that will contain all details of the worker - his work contract, his employer, his insurance, et cetera," Mr Singh said. "This data will also be available to the Government of India as well as our missions overseas. The objective of this project is to transform the emigration process into a simple, transparent, orderly and humane process." One difficulty in the UAE is that unskilled workers rarely carry identification, making it harder to know who they are should they get into problems or go to work on the black labour market after losing their jobs. The cards will be required only of those workers who leave India to work abroad for the first time, not those who already work in the UAE, said Vayalar Ravi, the minister of overseas Indian affairs. He said there were five million Indian workers in the Gulf region. "I have seen their contributions first-hand when I recently visited Oman and Qatar. I was amazed to see their grit, their determination, and how they are contributing magnificently to processes of wealth creation in these countries." "We have been hearing about the coming of this card for a long time," said KS Saifuddin, the director of the Al Dhafra Medical Centre, in Dubai, who is attending the conference. "To make it official means that it will definitely be beneficial for the workers. What is most important, is to note that it will streamline things. For them, and for those who employ them." More than 1.2 million Indians are estimated to work in the UAE, most in the construction industry. The smart card is one of many initiatives the Indian government has announced in the past year to protect its migrant workforce, especially domestic maids and construction workers. Soon, all Indians who wish to work in the Gulf will be required to undergo pre-employment training before they leave, Mr Ravi said in June last year. During training, workers are to be advised on the rules of their host countries and given information about their rights and who to contact if they need help. The government is also changing legal procedures to make recruitment agents more accountable and punish offenders with possible jail terms. "We are trying to centralise the process and ensure that recruiting is a professional activity where there is no exploitation or cheating. We are committed to fighting illegal migration," Mr K Mohandas, secretary at the ministry of overseas Indian affairs, said in December. Once the laws are changed, recruitment agents will be able to charge workers using their services fees equalling one month's wages. The official ceiling for agents' fees is now Dh218 (US$59), but some charge more than Dh7,000. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, which has been held since 2003, recognises Indians who have made extraordinary contributions to their communities, and those who have enhanced the relationship between their countries of residence and India. Indians from the UAE recognised in the past include: Syed Salahuddin, managing director of the ETA Ascon Star Group; Yusuf Ali, managing director of the Emke Group; and BR Shetty, managing director of the NMC group. Last year K Kumar, convener of the Indian Community Welfare Association in Dubai, was honoured. JR Gangaramani, the founder of the Al Fara'a Construction Group, which is based in Al Ain, will be honoured tomorrow by the Indian president, Pratibha Patil. After three e-mail threats against the Chennai Trade Centre, where the event is being held, security measures were doubled yesterday, with the installation of additional closed-circuit TV cameras and floodlights. [e-mail]