The high suicide rate, especially among blue-collar workers, in West Asia must push the government to explore labour-friendly solutions
The West Asia or the popular Gulf region is bestowed with a wealth of resources (predominantly oil & gas), that translates to a significant amount of deployable capital for economic and industrial activity, but the region is heavily dependent on imported labour to develop and sustain its economic activities. According to a 2010 World Bank Report, the Gulf nations Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Saudi Arabia featured in the top 10 immigration countries with immigrants as a percentage of the total population at 86.5 per cent, 70 per cent, 39.1 per cent and 27.8 per cent respectively. Indian nationals form a significant part of the Gulf workforce and India and the subcontinent remain suppliers of huge labour pools — both blue- and white-collar workers.
The Gulf country where I live and work has registered its 31st case of suicide a few days ago, by an Indian national (by far the highest suicide rate among immigrant foreign nationals). Most of them are blue-collar workers who venture out to this part of the world for better wages. We are halfway through the year and this is a shocking and a deeply worrying statistic, and for just one country in the Gulf region. It’s a rather well-known fact that most of these workers beg, borrow and sell all they have to make their way to these countries of promised prosperity (mostly by fly-by-night bogus recruiting agencies). More often than not, the reality is a lot different from what they were told or picture it to be.
Abuse, restrictions
Among other factors, working conditions tend to be harsh especially if you are a construction worker. Some unscrupulous employers (and not all) delay or don’t pay wages on time, physically abuse workers, retain passports to restrict labour mobility. Other employers have gone bankrupt due to worsening economic conditions, thereby leaving many workers stranded with no jobs, shelter and money. This and other factors could have prompted these workers to resort to the extreme step of taking their lives. It is important we address this serious issue associated with the immigrant workforce, especially in the blue-collar category. Several other countries are taking them rather seriously. Indonesia, for example, has taken some positive steps to address the issue of maid abuse in this part of world. The Indian embassies in these countries are pretty much the only place these workers can turn to but the embassies have their hands full with passport, visa and other related matters and they don’t seem to have adequate resources to be of any help. There are non-governmental organisations that are trying to be of help but they too could be overwhelmed.
Need for counselling
The Indian government should consider ways and means to protect its nationals working abroad and set up a fact finding mission to analyse and understand the problems faced by the immigrant workforce. The Gulf Indian diaspora should be actively engaged in exploring solutions. Indian nationals venturing out for menial or low-wage paying jobs should be sufficiently counselled and made to understand the economic and legal implications of working abroad. They should also know the avenues for legal recourse should their employer default on salary payments or mistreat them. In select countries, where there is a high degree of blue-collar immigration, the government should actively consider posting a resident counsellor in the Indian embassies or setting up a workers welfare centre which can be a venue or platform to bringing up, discussing and resolving some of the issues. A combination of work and family related issues (such as separation from loved ones for several years) result in several psychological problems (depression, anxiety, and trauma) and these could also be addressed by reasonably well-equipped welfare centres.
Through bilateral agreements with countries which rely on the Indian immigrant workforce, the government should ensure worker rights are protected and a mechanism in place to deal with repatriation should the worker get stranded with no financial resources. A subsidised insurance scheme offered by State-owned institutions like the LIC or the GIC could also potentially act as a safety net. Such agreements and steps send out a strong message that the government is serious about the life and well-being of its citizens working abroad and could prompt host country governments to have stricter rules (and their enforcement) for employers employing Indian workers. Some such initiatives could already be underway but there should be a sense of urgency in implementing such initiatives.
Remittances
According to World Bank estimates, in 2011, Indians working abroad would have remitted about $58 billion, topping the list for the second time in a row. Of the total remittances, Indians working in Gulf nations that include Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar would have contributed a third of the total remittances. Non-resident Indian (NRI) workers send home precious foreign exchange to financially support their families and establish economic interests in India (by buying hard assets, investing in businesses, etc) in the fond hope that they can secure their financial future and one day return to their home country to join their loved ones. They deserve a support system that understands their needs, protects their interests and well-being.
(The author is an NRI living in the Gulf. The opinions expressed are his own.)
Keywords: Indian migrant labour, Gulf nation, suicide rate, blue collar workers
I agree with the views and the suggestions of the author. Additionally I would say that though
the govt of india has by and large the infrastructure by way of formal and informal societies /
associations like ICRF etc. to handle the workers poor plight but the end result is not what
one would expect. The reason being that when a worker is in problem , say due to rougue
sponsor, the govt is not effectively able to resolve the case at a ministry level. If any case is
observed, embassy shall take up that case strongly with the GCC respective foreign ministry
and show ensure the rogue sponsor is penalized effectively. Such class may take time to
resolve, but few such examples wil set a good benchmark to be followed and will ensure
other local companies don't mistreat the Indian labor. Every one should realize esp the oil
rich diaspora that when a worker come to gulf to make money, no one is doing a favor to
them, the gcc employer also need the manpower as much as the worker needs money.
How we did come at this?One fundamental need : to make money for a
improvised living.People move in search for better livelihoods it
could be internal or external. What astounds is the magnitude of this
movement to external regions.How did it start and become such a
phenomenon?May be our socio-economic conditions were putting lot of
pressure on some communities. Members of these communities would have
made their minds after witnessing certain benefits and happiness
expressed by some of their kin and friends. Initially it would not
have been not like this - a mere exploitation driven trend. But over
the time when demand surged because of change in attitude of Gulf
rulers, and no significant change in the home conditions in their
traditional means of living, supply also surged.Now their emerged
various kinds of other factors like unethical agents, mass
contractors exploiting the situation. Also a tendency to lie to fit in
the social status perceived by their community makes it more ugly
It is a pitty that suicide rate in Kerala is one of the highest in the world and the Keralites in Middle East has one of the highest suicide rate among migrant workers. The major reasons of the suicide by Indian migrant workers are:
(1) The employers hold the passport of the migrant workers and the migrant workers are treated as slaves, especially the blue collar workers.
(2) The exuberant expectation of the migrants are dashed on arrival in the Middle East, with poor living conditions and poor wages for the labourers.
(3)The workers are prevented to leave the country as long as the employer hold the passport.
(4) Human trafficking especially women reaching the Middle East as domestic workers or maids and ending up in sexal and physical abuse, prostituition and slavery.
India should not issue passports for migrant workers to countries where the employers hold the passport and for those who seek jobs as domestics or maids in the Middle East or any other country.
Things are worse than said in the article. The grass in the other side is always green
until we land there. Indian mission has taken enough steps for the welfare of our
community, added to that is fund collected and spend for the Required family for
promoting education is commendable.
Suicides are not common in Gulf, but all over. A life/moral based education will stop it,
if provided in right age and time. Let's all work towards upgrading our education for a
bright future.
Finally some Indian newspaper covering this. I have read about similar
kinds of incidents involving third world countries mostly, and about
how Indians (worker class mostly) are treated in the Arabian
peninsular countries. And, it's absolutely shocking and totally racist
(I have no qualms about making this allegation based on what I have
read). Recently only there was some news about an Indian doctor beaten
up in some Qatar hospital. I still remember that news about the poor
Indian worker who sneaked in an Air India plane to come home in
desperation.
It's really sad that though some prominent foreign newspapers have
covered such incidents, our own print and electronic media ignore
this. We seem to be more interested in a superstar's detention than
the plight of the vulnerable poor. The govt. seems to be careless as
well. We need to do better than this. I really hope that "The Hindu"
gives more prominent coverage to such incidents.
The above article is the fact which require government's urgent interference to stop exploiting life of poor labours by some kind of Un human people who use these labours to make their life luxurious.
The exploitation mainly I found in two area.
Construction field & House driver. In these areas wages ar too low like 700 Riyal & not paying on time also.
So Government should bring one strong rule which assures Minimam Wage & Living standard especially for Blue collor Labours.
People in India [most of us] think that those who have gone to Gulf are making lot of money. But in actual, what is happening to some of them is quite shocking and as the author says that our Govt. should take actions to see that such blue-collar migrants are taken care by their employers by providing sufficient salary to bring their family and in case of the employers themselves are not financially OK, then our migrants should be brought back to India before taking extreme steps. Some of the relatives who feel jealous about such suffering migrants should understand their working conditions etc. rather than asking the migrants to bring gifts, and expect to get financial help from them. Our Govt. should insist that the employers should follow some standards/rules for the welfare of the blue collar migrants in written format so that legal action can be taken in case of ill-treatment etc.
Living in an alien culture is always a strain; without knowing the
indirect pains one has to face the immigrants move from native countries
to foreign countries to survive. Hundreds of years ago whites moved into
the American continents, decimated the natives, established themselves.
The human slaves they brought from Africa particularly are never treated
as equals. The agony is going to be a permanent one for human beings
because we differentiate in caste, creed, color, race and what not?
Here is a basic question: Why do you go to a country where they have zero respect for Indians? The real and simple reason why folks go there is to make money. Live a threadbare existence there sacrificing youth and happiness to send all your money home, often to a bunch of people who will never appreciate or understand what you lost in the process. Why? Ultimately it's your choice - no one forced you to go there.
The situation is very fluid and the this country has changed
dramatically since earlier.I find that the established people in the
this country are creating stumbling blocks and that is why there is
despair for people in the Gulf.Take a small list of development
blocked:
1.Trichur-Palghat road to be made concrete and made good for higher speed traffic. 2.Vallarpadam to be expanded.3.International cruise terminal to be made at Kochi. 4.Kochin shipyard to be expanded.5.Angamally-Perumbavoor riverbridge to be made four-lane. 6.Beypore to be made a second cruise terminal. 7.Metro or internal railway for Kochi. Actually when development proceeds and there is an endless list just one state recovering from Communist hangover will ensure that the people are busy all the time.The Government must fix wages and benefits which includes medical, educational for one child and also retirement benefits.
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