7/23/2020
Migration News Wage Theft amid Pandemic Adds to Remittance Dip
Therefore, these violations are piling up and either not be
addressed or overburdening the existing dispute resolution
mechanisms.
The stranded worker will get a call from the mission house
giving him some 48 hours maximum to purchase a return
ticket. The companies often clear the migrant workers’ papers
only after the worker gets a travel confirmation call from the
embassy is received.
Eventually, the worker won’t have ample time to register his
grievances if there are any.
There are around 35 million migrant workers in the Arab Gulf
countries who work under Kafala system, a peculiar employeremployee contract which restricts many rights and freedom of
migrant workers.
ESCROW Fund
Indian missions in the Arab Gulf countries should record wage
grievances of Indian workers who are leaving due to the Covid19 outbreak as documentation is vital in addressing the wage
theft issue, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Indian parliamentarian and
former State Minister at Ministry of External Affairs, said.
“I will write to the Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S
Jaishankar to set up a platform at Indian missions where the
workers' grievances, especially on the wage front, can be
recorded,” Dr. Tharoor said.
According to him, currently, there is no mechanism available
globally to address the wage theft issue and ensure justice for
the migrant worker.
However, Dr. Tharoor suggested that an ESCROW fund where
six months of wages can be deposited by the employer should
be set up when the VISA is approved for the worker.
“This ESCROW fund can help to pay the worker when pay
default happens, especially when Covid-like crisis happens,”
Dr. Tharoor said adding that pandemic outbreak has become
an excuse for the employers in the Arab Gulf to remove
migrant workers without clearing their unpaid wages and end
of service benefits.
He added that considering the limitations of mission houses,
countries of origin should put pressure on countries of
destination to ensure justice for the migrant workers, and to
fight against the wage theft, civil society organizations should
take a lead in organizing trade unions.
Claims Commission
Meanwhile, detailing on wage theft and justice mechanism,
Roula Hamati, coordinator, Cross Regional Center for
Refugees and Migrants, said that pandemic has made wage
theft a normal thing in all sectors and only a few goes to courts.
“We can’t continue like this. Numbers should not be a criterion
in taking up this issue. We should set up an International
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