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Ambassador’s letter to the Indian
Community in Kuwait
14 October 2009
Dear Member of the Indian Community in Kuwait,
In continuation of my letter of May 26, 2009, I provide an update on
consular, welfare, and other initiatives that have since been undertaken
by the Embassy.
Consular and passport issues:
On May 27, 2009, two new Indian Passport and Visa Service Centres were
opened in Kuwait. Some of you helped publicise the change in a number of
Indian languages, and I thank you for doing so. Issues that inevitably
accompany such a fundamental transformation were reasonably quickly put
behind us. Since late June 2009 we have maintained a turn-around
delivery time of 3-4 working days after a passport/consular service
application is made at the Service Centre. Our attestation service at
the Embassy envisages return delivery normally within 45 minutes of
submission of a document.
In July 2009, the online registration form for Indian citizens on the
Embassy website was upgraded to provide a confirmation when a completed
registration form has been properly received.
This week a “Consular Open House” procedure has been started at the
Embassy from 1000 hrs to 1100 hrs and 1430 hrs to 1530 hrs on all
working days. By it, the Consular Head or a senior Consular official
would be available in the Embassy Consular Room and can be met without
prior appointment to discuss any consular matter.
In response to queries, kindly note that in case of demise of an Indian
national in Kuwait, if the mortal remains have to be sent back to India
then the Embassy will, upon request, bear the full air
transportation costs and all incidental expenditures associated with
doing so in all deserving/needy cases.
Welfare and Labour issues:
While the approximately 580,000 strong Indian community is present in
most segments of society in Kuwait, our initial thrust has been directed
at addressing the welfare concerns of our workers, especially the
225,000 Indians who work in Kuwait under Visa No. 20. Of them roughly
150,000 are male domestic workers while about 75,000 are female domestic
workers.
24 by 7 toll free phone helpline for Indian domestic workers (Visa No.
20): This helpline inaugurated on 9 August 2009 has systematized and
enhanced our availability to an Indian domestic worker in distress.
Earlier, the response outside office hours depended on whether the
person receiving the call had appropriate linguistic abilities and knew
how to properly log down a concern and respond to it. Now, telephone
number 25674163 is accessible toll free from anywhere in Kuwait,
functions round the clock through a multiple–line call-center, and
provides us with a computerised print-out of incoming call details so
that the calls can be tracked back to their source. More importantly, it
is staffed by persons who can respond in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil,
Telugu, Arabic and English. The helpline number is prominently
front-paged on all job contracts of Indian domestic workers attested by
the Embassy. As a result, new workers arriving here know, prior to their
arrival, that if there is a problem someone is constantly available to
them.
Grievance redressal and support system: We have considerably
strengthened our grievance redressal and support system mechanism in
2009 and can now reasonably promptly and effectively address grievances
of Indian domestic workers (Visa No. 20) and project workers (Visa No.
18) in Kuwait.
Since early this year Indian domestic workers in distress are being
accommodated and looked after by the Embassy under a new arrangement,
while their grievances are being addressed. On arrival, they are given a
kit containing new clothes, all toiletries, and other essentials. They
are also provided with bunk beds with full bedding, regular nutritious
meals, and all basic amenities while they are with us. To keep them in
reasonably good cheer, the common areas have a TV, with access to Indian
cable channels, as well as a small music system with Indian music CDs.
In case of repatriation of a domestic worker, an air ticket from Kuwait
to the Indian airport nearest to their home plus sufficient cash to
travel from that airport to their home town/village and pay for
incidentals, is also routinely being provided by the Embassy.
We now also have the wherewithal in place to more effectively address
the concerns of our domestic workers and have made solid headway in
doing so. The rate of resolution of grievances has improved
substantially, compared to a year ago. As a result, the number of
domestic workers in distress lodged with us at any given moment has
declined quite significantly. Nevertheless, an important residual
concern remains. A majority of those currently in distress are coming
here without Embassy attested work contracts. We have alerted the
authorities in India to spread the word that Indian domestic workers
coming to Kuwait should only do so with work contracts attested by this
Embassy and I would request you to also kindly do so.
Blacklisting: Where the rights of any Indian worker are violated, the
Embassy has been debarring the concerned individual/company from
undertaking further hires from India. Additionally, since June 2009, we
have also been debarring all violators of the rights of any Indian
national from availing of consular/passport/visa services to visit
India. Furthermore, where Indian workers are concerned, details of such
violators are also being shared with others. In addition, other measures
are being taken as relevant to each particular case.
Help Desk: Since 9 August 2009, a “Help Desk” service has been started
at the Embassy, which offers guidance to Indian nationals on routine
immigration, employment, and other issues.
Insurance cover: Since mid-February 2009, sponsors recruiting an Indian
national for Kuwait for jobs in the domestic sector [as housemaids,
houseboys, cooks and drivers] are also compulsorily required by the
Embassy to take a two year insurance policy in the name of the worker
from one of two designated insurance companies in Kuwait. Benefits of
the latter scheme were attached to my last letter. This is in addition
to the automatic 2-3 year coverage under Pravasi Bharati Bima Yojana for
all unskilled Indian workers in ECR category coming to Kuwait with
proper work contracts.
Legal Advice Clinic: This Clinic has been revamped this week. A new
Kuwaiti lawyer has joined, new equipment has been installed, and it is
now open four times a week, rather than twice a week. Further steps to
improve its functioning are also in the pipeline.
Indian Workers Welfare Center: The welfare measures offered by this
Embassy have been consolidated into an “Indian Workers Welfare Center”
located in the Embassy. Its timings and welfare service details are
annexed.
Attestation of domestic sector work contracts: Since mid-February 2009,
domestic sector work contracts are being submitted exclusively to Kuwait
Union of Domestic Labour Offices (KUDLO), accompanied by an insurance
policy in favour of the worker from the designated insurance companies.
The Embassy does the attestation, with documents returned via KUDLO.
Attestation of private sector work contracts: This has been systematized
in early September 2009 and our response has been made time-bound. The
time required by us for completing the attestation procedure has now
been fixed at 3 working days from the date of submission of documents
complete in all respects. If documents submitted are incomplete, a
communication regarding the shortcomings will be sent by the Labour Wing
of the Embassy to the applicant within 3 working days of receipt of the
application.
Health support for the Indian community:
Under the patronage of the Kuwait Medical Association, the Indian
Doctors Forum [IDF], Kuwait, annually conducts 5-6 free health screening
and awareness camps for Indian workers in Kuwait. The Indian doctors,
paramedics and nurses, who volunteer their time on a holiday deserve our
gratitude for doing so, as do the associations that back-stop such
camps. I also thank our doctors for the "School Health Program 2009"
that they are conducting in Indian schools in Kuwait. The free medical
advice facility offered by IDF doctors too deserves appreciation. If you
have an unresolved health query, you can use the "Ask a Doctor" facility
and get a free opinion from an Indian medical specialist. The Embassy
web-site provides details at http://www.indembkwt.org/press/11aug09.htm.
I also compliment IDF for supporting Breast Cancer Awareness month,
through October, by disseminating the campaign message within our
community in Kuwait.
India tourism promotion in Kuwait:
India participated in the “Travel World Expo” held in Kuwait from May
26-30, 2009. The Embassy sent two journalists from local Arabic language
newspapers to India from 21-28 June 2009, leading to expanded coverage
of India in those newspapers. In early August 2009, we sent two more
journalists to Kerala for a week, also resulting in good publicity.
Hon’ble Mr. Sultan Ahmed, Union Minister of State for Tourism, led a
travel trade delegation to Kuwait and addressed the Road Show organized
here on 8 October 2009 for the Kuwaiti travel and tourism industry. It
showcased new Indian tourism products, services and initiatives, while
25 members of the Indian Association of Tour Operators participated in
the Buyer-Seller Meet that was held. The Road Show gave a special focus
to health tourism, and in that context was addressed by Hon’ble Minister
of Health of Kerala, Mrs. P.K. Sreemathi Teacher. A tourist bus-wrap
with the “Incredible India!” display was also inaugurated.
Indian cultural promotion in Kuwait:
In cooperation with the Kuwaiti authorities and our Ministry of Culture,
a mini Indian cultural festival is being organized in Kuwait in the
second week of November 2009. Details would be publicized and shared
once events/venues/artistes are finalized. Separate Indian food and film
festivals in Kuwait would follow.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2010:
The next Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will be held at Vigyan
Bhawan, New Delhi, from 07-09 January 2010. Online registration is
underway. Details are available at the Embassy website www.indembkwt.org
and at http://pbdindia.org/ .
Embassy email contacts:
Following Embassy email details may be noted. For labour or welfare
assistance: fslabour@indembkwt.org; for passport or consular assistance
[including detention/death cases]: hoc@indembkwt.org and fscons@indembkwt.org;
for commercial or cultural assistance: counsellor@indembkwt.org. If any
matter deserves my attention, kindly email amboffice@indembkwt.org or
amb@indembkwt.org.
I welcome your sharing this letter with other members of the Indian
community in Kuwait and thank you in advance for doing so.
With best wishes,
Signed/=
[Ajai Malhotra]
Ambassador of India
Kuwait
14 October 2009
Annexure
Embassy of India, Kuwait
“Indian Workers Welfare Center”
The Embassy of India provides the following services to Indian workers
in Kuwait at its “Indian Workers Welfare Center”:
Help Desk: For guidance to Indian nationals on routine immigration,
employment, legal, and other issues, etc. It also assists illiterate
workers in filling up labour complaint forms.
(Open: 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM; Sunday to Thursday)
24 X 7 Helpline for Indian domestic workers (Visa No. 20): Accessible by
toll free telephone No. 25674163 from all over Kuwait, it provides
information and advice as regards their grievances, immigration and
other matters.
Labour Complaints Desk: Registration of labour complaints and action
thereon via contacting of sponsors and recruitment agencies, liaison
with local authorities, police stations, deportation centers, etc., for
resolution of grievances.
(Open: 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM; Sunday to Thursday)
Accommodation and support system for domestic workers in distress:
Separate accommodation for Indian female and male domestic workers in
distress has been arranged, where food and other essentials are also
provided.
Attestation of Work Contracts: It is mandatory for all work contracts
for recruitment of manpower from India, to be attested by the Embassy of
India Kuwait, as per the following procedures:
- Private Sector Workers (Visa No. 18): Work contracts, in prescribed
format, are to be got attested by the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce &
Industry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait.
Thereafter the contracts are to be submitted to the Embassy of India for
attestation. Prescribed format of work contract and other documentation
may be obtained from the Embassy or downloaded from the Embassy website.
Time required for attestation: Three working days from date of
submission of documents complete in all respects. In case documents
submitted are incomplete, a communication regarding the shortcomings
will be sent to the company concerned within three working days.
(Open: 9 AM to 1 PM; Sunday to Thursday).
- Domestic Sector Workers (Visa No. 20): Work contracts, in prescribed
format, are to be submitted to the Kuwait Union of Domestic Labour
Offices (KUDLO). All contracts must be accompanied by an insurance
policy purchased by the sponsor in favour of the worker from the
designated insurance companies. Prescribed format of the employment
contract and other documentation, as also contact details of KUDLO and
insurance companies may be obtained from the Embassy or downloaded from
the website. KUDLO office is at Hawally, Al-Othman Street, Kurd
Roundabout, Al-Abraj Complex, Mezzanine Floor, Office No. 9.
(Open: 9 AM to 9 PM; Saturday to Thursday; 5 PM to 9 PM on Friday).
Legal Advice Clinic: Qualified Kuwaiti lawyers provide free legal advice
to Indian workers on labour disputes, terms of contracts with employers,
withholding of dues by employers, etc.
(Open: 3 PM to 5 PM; Mondays to Thursdays).
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