The agents in India like Indman Services, J M Mehta, Asia Men Power and many others like this in Mumbai & elsewhere are exploiting the poor Indians like anything. These agents send thousands of labourers to Gulf Nations every months. They charge around Rs 70,000 to Rs 1,00,000 per head to provide their services. The poor labourers take loans from relatives & elsewhere or sell their property to come to these countries. The labourers think that Gulf is paradise and once they come here they will clear the loan in no time. But the situations are very different. The unskilled labourer earns Rs 4500/ per month for his 10 hours daily job. The skilled labourer like mason and carpenter earns Rs 7200/- per month for his 10 hours daily job. To earn more money they work overtime, atleast 5 to 6 hours extra. That fetches them another 3000 per month extra but takes away 10 years of life in one year. These people have to live in a very wretched conditions. The accomodation provided is such that one room is occupied by 16 to 20 labourers. Considering the expenses of these labourers here, they need to work atleast for 2 years just to pay the agents fees. These labourers in India can earn far better and stay with their families. More than the need of Indian people, it is the need of these Nations that Indians should work here.
How can we stop these agents from exploiting the uneducated and poor labourers. There are labourers coming here from other countries like Phillipines. They do not need to pay any money to their agents. The air ticket for them is provided by the companies that hire them. But for Indian labourers, the companies do not give the initial air ticket as they know the agents take money from them.
Dear friends, we spend a lot of time in discussing issues that do not really make positive difference to India. But if somebody can advise here how we can address this issue of exploitation of poor labourers, we can do something positive. Please bear in mind, the exploitation is done by our own Indians on Indian soil by some greedy agents thus taking out life of poor people.
If we can make our Govt to note this and do something, we will have achieved a great in our lives. Many of the people may be knowing people in media. If we can bring this issue through media, I think we can achieve some positive results in this.
RE:Too much Exploitation
by ashok leyland on Apr 15, 2007 01:04 AM Permalink
Press the govt. to act. Get the media to do their job. Instead of gossiping and copying news from outside sources, our journalists should learn to do real reporting, help our people by denouncing such scoundrels. The international news item about a small incident in Milan when police fined a Chinese woman for her car not being checked as per law should teach us a lesson. The Chinese protested, the police intervened with batons, there was a clash between police and Chinese shop owners, the Chinese consul immediately (not taking his own sweet time),came to the scene to protect his countrymen and made a statement to the media. The Chinese PM wrote a letter the same day expressing formal protest and asking the Italian PM for an immediate explanation why his people are being treated like that. Can you immagine Manmohan Singh or even the Italian Embassy protesting or coming into the picture to save Indians from being cheated, treated badly or being denied their rights? Your answer can only be "NO". Not one Indian politician will take a stand to protect his own voters. Till he can milk them for their votes, it's OK but does he ever give back anything? NO.
That's why the agents can get away cheating the ingnorant labour class. The desire to be given some dignified and decent way of making a living is what makes Indians at ALL levels, the perfect prey for unscruplous agencies, agents and employers. Those of you who live outside MUST press and create a big noise to force our press to take a position and press for social justice. Will Rediff take up the challenge?
I have been in the gulf for close to three years and couln't agree with you more. There is exploitation everywhere. Right from unscrupulous agents to companies. Everyday there is at least one worker at the airport who has been tricked by the agent and has no where to go. The politicians too share part of the blame. They come to gulf seeking money. All big talk but hardly any action. We also have a minister for overseas indian affairs. But the things on the ground are hardly improving. It's high time one starts taking up the crudgels (at least by communicating in such such fora). This would increase awareness and caution people for succumbling to gulf dreams, Thanks
