India to discuss domestic workers' issue in Saudi Arabia

The Indian government has sought to create an effective legal framework to address the issues facing Indian domestic workers in Saudi Arabia.

Indian officials, who arrived this week, are slated to meet Saudi Deputy Labour Minister for International Affairs Ahmed Al-Fahaid to discuss legal modalities of a framework to facilitate mechanisms to address disputes arising between domestic workers and their employers in Saudi Arabia.

Officials from both sides will discuss the framework that regulates contractual relations between employers and domestic workers, ensures authenticity and implementation of the employment contract, promises action against recruitment agencies violating laws and seeks to establish a mechanism to provide round the clock assistance to domestic workers, Arab News reported Wednesday.

The Indian team is headed by Protector General of Emigrants Ruolkhumlien Buhril and includes senior officials.

Minimum wages, working hours, paid holidays and a dispute settlement mechanism will be marked in the standard employment contract.

A committee of senior officials from both countries will monitor the implementation of the pact to straighten out difficulties.

The visit aims to address the issues of domestic workers for which an official agreement was signed in New Delhi between Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Valayar Ravi and Saudi Labour Minister Adel Fakeih in January this year, the report stated.

Indian domestic workers, who are mostly employed as house drivers, workers on private farms and house-maids, are still not covered under the contractual mechanism and face difficulties to redress issues in the event of disputes arising with their employers, the report said.