India: Companies and government failing Gulf returnees who face wage theft, quarantine fees
Summary
Date Reported: 11 Sep 2020
Location: Kuwait
Other
Not Reported ( Labour supplier ) - Labour SupplierAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( 2 - India , Labour supplier , Gender not reported )Issues
Wage TheftResponse
Response sought: No
Action taken: One of the workers stated he had not received financial assistance from the government. No action was reported on the part of the employer.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 11 Sep 2020
Location: United Arab Emirates
Other
Not Reported ( Sector not reported/applicable ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: 1
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( 1 - India - Sector unknown , Gender not reported )Issues
Restricted mobility , Wage Theft , Freedom of MovementResponse
Response sought: No
Action taken: The worker cancelled his visa and returned home, but was still owed wages at the time of writing.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 11 Sep 2020
Location: United Arab Emirates
Other
Not Reported ( Construction ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: 1
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( 1 - India , Construction , Gender not reported )Issues
Precarious/Unsuitable Living ConditionsResponse
Response sought: No
Action taken: None reported.
Source type: News outlet
"Thousands of Gulf returnees in India don't know what to do next," 11 Sep 2020
In early May, when the Indian government announced the first set of repatriation flights, 300,000 people registered in the Gulf alone... an estimated 20-30,000 migrants have arrived at Hyderabad airport from Gulf countries...
While the Telangana government provided free quarantine facilities to about 5500 returnees, some were handed over INR 8,000 (USD 110) per person as hotel quarantine stipends...
Activists point out that labour contractors in the Gulf have used the pandemic as an excuse to entirely terminate employment for hundreds of migrant workers without paying them their dues. “During the pandemic, it was really difficult for us to manage. The contractor returned our passports and cancelled all arrears on wages,” Rakesh said. He migrated to the Gulf for work in 2014 and said that he is owed lakhs of Indian rupees in bonus amounts promised to him by his employer.