Death of a worker: Qatar deaths should prod a reorienting of public policy for migrant workers

Source– The post is based on the article “Death of a worker: Qatar deaths should prod a reorienting of public policy for migrant workers” published in The Indian Express on 21st October 2022.

Syllabus: GS2- Indian diaspora

Relevance– India relations with gulf countries

News- The article explains the issues faced by migrant workers in Gulf countries.

An investigation by the Indian Express has found that at least 40 people have died in Qatar since 2010 when FIFA awarded World Cup 2022 to the Gulf kingdom. These deaths are under-reported by authorities in Qatar.

What are the issues faced by migrant workers in gulf countries?

Over 8 million Indians live and work in the Gulf countries and their annual remittances constitute over $25 billion. A majority of them are semi-skilled or unskilled. Hence they are vulnerable to exploitation by employers.

Many of them are recruited through the visa sponsorship system. It ties a foreign worker’s residency permit to an employer. This system is exploited by agents and employers to recruit labours desperate for employment.

The administrations in Gulf nations are non-transparent. It does not recognise labour rights.

The availability of cheap and footloose global labour also reduces their bargaining power.

What is the way forward?

The Responsibility of ensuring the well-being of the migrant workforce also lies with the both Union and state governments in India.

The migrants should be provided pre-departure training. It will help inform migrant workers about their rights and equip them to deal with crises at labour sites and camps.

Indian embassies need to prioritise the concerns of migrant workers. The Centre could start a conversation with governments in the Gulf on improving oversight in contract enforcement and labour welfare.

The governments at Union and state levels should learn from best practices followed by some states. Kerala is one such example. It has created institutional checks and systems to build a safety net for migrant workers.

The nodal agency for non-resident Keralites, NORKA ROOTS offers personal accident insurance cover upto Rs 4 lakh and critical care coverage of Rs 1 lakh. It also liaison with Gulf-based community organisations and the government in critical situations.