Focus on legal rights of women workers

Separate department to handle issues pertaining to women and children

Lack of legal awareness is a problem among Keralite women living in other States or abroad, according to social activists.

At a discussion on the theme ‘Women and Migration,’ organised at the Legislative Assembly complex on Saturday as part of the Loka Kerala Sabha, social workers and representatives of expatriate organisations deliberated on issues of non-resident Keralites (NoRKs).

Social worker Sunitha Krishnan proposed a multi-pronged strategy to create legal awareness among expatriates, especially women engaged in domestic labour. Services of Kudumbasree and Jagratha Samithis must be utilised to sensitise those who intended to work abroad. Safe migration facilitation centres could also be established at airports to advise first-time travellers of their legal rights and to provide details of embassies and NoRK organisations in the countries concerned.

Actor Asha Sarath suggested measures to reach out to domestic workers who entered West Asia through tourist visas, but are stranded there. She proposed tapping the potential of radio stations, the sole source of entertainment for women expatriates.

Jabir, a migrants’ rights activist based in Muscat, spoke of a worrying trend of jobseekers, especially from south Kerala, falling prey to fraudulent recruitment rackets.

Plight of women

Malayalam Mission coordinator Prema Ramdas Menon, who is working for NoRKs in Maharashtra, said the plight of several Keralites who worked under harsh conditions in other States must be taken up by the State government.

Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services R. Sreelekha said the Kerala Police received several complaints from women expatriates. Around 25 cases pertaining to exploitation were registered every year on the basis of such complaints in the State. “The police here can register cases for crimes committed anywhere in the world. The cases can then be transferred to the authorities in the place of occurrence through the Ministry of External Affairs or the Interpol,” she said.

Health Minister K.K. Shylaja, who moderated the discussions, said the government had created a department specifically to handle issues pertaining to women and child development.

Veena George, MLA, proposed a database of women expatriates under panchayats.