This gives no additional space for an Indian migrant worker to detail his grievances if he has to.
Additionally, the Indian embassies are not entertaining in-person visit by a grieved worker, due to COVID-19
protocol, even if the worker is willing to do so. The in-person visits are restricted trough the token system.
Additionally, MFA partners reveal that countries of destinations are not exercising due diligence concerning
wage theft and other grievances migrant workers may have before repatriating them..
“Due to lockdown, manpower
“I was forced to resign in an evening. And
offices are not functioning in full
capacity. The same is the case of
courts. So, even if the worker has a
grievance to file, where is the
opportunity… Additionally, nobody
is asking the worker even at the
airport whether he has got his
rights and money what he is eligible
after 48 hours, I was flown back. On the day
of exit, my end of service benefits was
deposited in a back. I had only a few hours
to withdraw the money. I didn’t get the full
end of service benefits. The amount was
less. But I didn’t have any time to raise a
complaint either with the destination
for”
Indian Legal Advisor in Oman
country or my country embassy”
Repatriated Indian Driver in Oman
We, MFA and our partners, urge that countries of destination must exercise due diligence concerning wage
theft and other grievances migrant workers may have before repatriating them.
Unfortunately, we have found that countries of origin are also not documenting grievances of returned workers.
While India, the largest migrant-sending country is not doing it, Sri Lanka is also not doing. Other than focusing
on facilitating quarantine, the Indian government is not recording the grievances. Interestingly, in Sri Lanka, the
military is in charge of receiving migrant workers. However, Nepal partners confirm that there are provisions put
in place to record grievances of the returned worker.
“Here the military is handling
the situation. They are
concerned only about putting
the worker into quarantine. Will
the military ask a returning
worker about his labour
“Government is doing. There are
certain mechanisms put in
place…,”
Migrant Rights Activist in Nepal
grievances…?”
Migrant Researcher in Colombo
So, we from MFA and our partners, urge the countries of origin to ensure that upon arrival and during the
period of quarantine any grievance of returning migrant workers including wage theft and non-payment of end
of service benefits are documented for redress purposes.
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