Indian Embassy in Kuwait in another press statement, reiterate various policy measures taken by the embassy for the welfare of the Indian domestic workers in Kuwait. According to the statement, there are about 3 lakh Indian domestic workers in Kuwait and Embassy is maintaining separate shelters for females and males in distress. According to the statement, the common complaints received by Embassy from Indian domestic workers are physical & mental abuse, neglect of medical conditions and non-payment of wages.
Several policy measures have been taken for the protection and welfare of Indian domestic workers coming to the GCC countries for employment, as stated below:-
I. A female domestic workers should not be less than 30 years of age;
II. The Employment contract should be between the sponsor and the worker and that the attestation of this contract is mandatory from Indian Embassy;
III. Every employer recruiting Indian female domestic worker has to provide bank guarantee of US$ 2,500 with Indian Embassy;
IV. A pre-paid mobile phone should be provided by the employer to domestic worker;
V. Payment of minimum monthly wage to domestic workers (KD 70-75 per month) in Kuwait ; and
VI. 24x7 Telephone Helpline run by the Embassy, for information and advice to Indian workers as regards their grievances, immigration and other matters.
All Indian domestic workers holding visa Article 20, who find themselves in financial or any other distress, are temporarily accommodated in above-mentioned shelters so that they can be immediately provided with food, clothes and basic amenities, including some medical attention. The Embassy arranges for their repatriation to India at Government’s cost. Small allowance is also paid for their travel to their hometown etc., from the nearest airport of disembankment in India.
Embassy also provided the list of officials who can understand various regional languages in addition to English and Hindi for the immediate assistance for the domestic workers in distress.
(i) Telugu: Mrs. M. Thriveni Reddy: Mobile No. 97108538; Ms. Dina Ratnam: Mobile No. 66560773; Mr. K.S.S. Naidu, Mobile No. 66442433;
(ii) Tamil: Mr. M. Hamza: Mobile No. 66586006; Ms. Sunila Krishnan, Attache (Labour-II); Mobile No. 97264242;
(iii) Malayalam: Mr. M. Sudhreendran: Mobile No. 99183576; Mr. Boby Mathew Mobile No. 66932975; Smt. Dhanya Nair, Mobile No. 65689503;
Indian domestic workers can seek clarifications, on the telephone helpline No. 25674163 of the Embassy, the statement added. Shri S. Goldar, Deputy Chief of Mission (Mob No. 97229942) and Shri Ashok Kumar, Attaché (Labour) (Mob No. 97229946) may also be contacted in cases of emergency, informed the Embassy.