No significant adverse impact of New Labour Policy of Saudi Arabia on Indian Workers

The grace period for implementation of the ‘Nitaqat’ policy of Saudi Arabia has been extended twice,-first to 3rd July 2013 and then to 3rd November 2013 and hence, the policy has not had any significant adverse impact on Indian workers except on those who were working there without valid papers. The grace period allows even workers without valid papers to have their status regularized. 

3428 persons had been issued Emergency Certificates (ECs) by the Indian Missions in United Arab Emirates when Amnesty had been proclaimed from December 2012 to February 2013.7923 Indians left United Arab Emirates(UAE) during the Amnesty period. 

Subsequent to the stricter enforcement in Saudi Arabia, the Embassy of India and its consulate have so far issued over 68,500 Emergency Certificates (ECs) to enable affected Indian workers to come back to India . Applications for ECs continue to be received as the Amnesty period has been extended up to 3rd November,2013. Since the end of first Amnesty period, the Embassy of India and its Consulate have further issued over 1500 ECs. 

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs had called meetings of Ministers/representatives of major labour sending states twice, the first on 09.4.2013 and the second on 25.6.2013. The State Governments were requested to formulate rehabilitation programs for returnees from the Gulf, using existing State and Central Government programs where possible. The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs had separately launched Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana (MGPSY) on a pilot basis to encourage and enable Overseas Indian workers having Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports going to ECR countries, to save for their return and resettlement, save for their old age and obtain a Life Insurance cover against natural death during the period of coverage. 

Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Vayalar Ravi gave this information in his reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha today.