Upon visiting the location, Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah attributed these instances on the avarice of real estate developers, even though an inquiry had been started to identify the errors and establish responsibility.
In addition to providing ex gratia compensation to the families of the deceased, India’s urgent priorities are the identification of the bodies and the return of the victims’ mortal remains. Simultaneously, New Delhi must fully participate in the investigation to guarantee that those accountable for the catastrophe face severe consequences.
Source: The Indian Express
Apart from travel agencies who help with recruitment, those that come under investigation are the employers that bring in foreign labour and the real estate brokers who arrange lodging. Over 16,000 complaints were reportedly filed to India’s embassy in Kuwait by Indian nationals employed there between March 2021 and December 2023.
The majority of them had to do with underwhelming accommodations, employer harassment, and salary delays. 1,400 Indians, primarily migrant labourers, lost their lives in Kuwait between 2022 and 2023, according to data presented in Parliament earlier this year by the Ministry of External Affairs. All of this indicates that the Indian government has not done enough to address the concerns of the workers.
Source: India Today
With $125 billion in remittances sent to their families back home by Indians living abroad last year, India leads the world in this regard. One of the main sources of India’s remittance influx is the Gulf Cooperation Council. New Delhi has to put pressure on these countries to take action against dishonest employers who jeopardise employees’ safety and well-being.
What do you think about this? Comment below.
