Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print

Ban covers domestic helpers, labourers in private sector

 Manama: Kuwait is reportedly imposing a ban on the recruitment of Indian domestic helpers and workers in the private sector.

 
The ban option was decided after talks between Kuwaiti officials from the foreign and interior ministries and Indian ambassador to Kuwait Sunil Jain on Wednesday failed to overcome divergences over a decision by New Delhi to impose a $2,500 (KD730) bank guarantee for Indian domestic helpers working overseas. 
Immigration directorates and service centres in Kuwait’s governorates have been informed about the ban orally, local daily Al Anba reported on Thursday.

 
The ban is to be announced formally later.

 
Bank guarantee

 
The ambassador during the talks reportedly said that there was a possibility to reconsider the bank guarantee over Indian males working in Kuwait, but he insisted on its imposition in the case of female domestic helpers.

 
The diplomat said that the guarantee aimed to protect the rights of the helpers and that the principle was applied in several European countries and in all the other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states without any objection from their authorities, the daily said, quoting sources it did not name.

 
However, Assistant Undersecretary for Passports and Residency Mazen Al Jarrah, who was present at the meeting said that Kuwait was committed not to have more financial pressure exerted on its citizens.

 
He added that the Kuwaiti parliament would never tolerate the bank guarantee condition imposed by the Indian authorities.

 
Standoff

 
The standoff between Kuwait and India has been simmering since New Delhi in September said that it would make mandatory a bank guarantee for anyone who wished to recruit an Indian domestic helper in Kuwait.

 
The Indian embassy in Kuwait said the bank guarantee would be used “for the repatriation of the housemaid and other unpaid expenses like salary, medical expenses... in case the employer fails to pay the same as per the terms of the agreement.”

 
“The bank guarantee is to be submitted in original to the embassy of India,” the embassy said.

 
“On termination of the employment contract at any time by mutual consent, the employer should bring the domestic worker to the Embassy of India and submit a written request for a refund of the bank guarantee before the final departure of the domestic worker to India.

 
"The domestic worker would be required to confirm in writing that all her dues have been settled. Should the domestic worker complain of non-receipt of her dues, the Embassy would deduct the same from the bank guarantee.”

 
However, Kuwaitis have refused the new Indian conditions and the stance gained new dimensions amid reports that Kuwait might consider suspending the recruitment of manpower from India in retaliation for the bank guarantee decision.

 
Several lawmakers have been pushing to take a firm stance against India over the recruitment of Indian helpers, arguing that the bank guarantee was a violation of the laws and norms.

 
According to the lawmakers, the protection of expatriates and their rights is the duty of the state, and not embassies.

 
One lawmaker said that accepting the Indian condition would encourage other embassies in Kuwait to adopt similar measures.

 
The Indian community is the largest in Kuwait with around 750,000 people, including 270,000 domestic helpers.