Ensure Gulf countries implement labour pact: PMK to Centre

Against the backdrop of a domestic help's hand from Tamil Nadu getting chopped off allegedly by her Saudi employer, PMK chief Ramadoss today urged the Central government to ensure that a pact between India and Gulf countries over protection of worker's rights gets implemented.
Recently, the right hand of Kasturi Munirathinam hailing from Tamil Nadu and working as a domestic help in Saudi Arabia was chopped off allegedly by her employer, bringing the spotlight back on threats faced by Indian labour force in Gulf countries.
He pointed out that India has signed an agreement with 18 Gulf countries on protection of rights of women domestic workers, which (among other clauses) stipulate a bank guarantee of Rs 1.60 lakh (US Dollars 2,500) for each worker.

"However, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have not implemented the agreement," he alleged, adding that the Centre should ensure that all Gulf countries implement the agreement.
"Steps must be taken for the return of women domestic workers who do not wish to work in Gulf countries, to India and for remittance of Rs 1.60 lakh to workers," he said.
He urged the State and Central governments to take steps to bring back Kasturi Munirathinam from Saudi to Tamil Nadu and get a compensation of Rs 25 lakh from her employer.
An estimated 90,000 Indian women work in Gulf countries as domestic helps and a section of them faced harassment, he said and demanded appropriate steps to ensure their safety, proper payment of wages and good work conditions.