The dismal state of Indian labourers in UAE had Modi really worried

PM Modi who is in the United Arab Emirates on a two-day visit is concerned about workers’ conditions working in the Gulf countries. He expressed this concern while speaking at a labour camp in Abu Dhabi. Modi specifically spoke for India’smigrant labourers residing in the UAE, who over the years have become a major source of human resource in the Gulf countries, and are building glitzy skyscrapers, hotels and museums.

Millions of Asian labourers are engaged in building mega projects like World Expo 2020 in Dubai and the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. Their earnings being quite a few times higher than what they could have earned in India, workers tend to migrate to Middle East and stay in unhygienic ghettos to save more money.

About 200 workers broke into applause when Modi arrived at an indoor basketball court at the labour camp in the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi. Modi chatted with the workers, enquiring about the place and their welfare and jobs, but made no comments to the media. Some 2.6 million Indians live and work in the UAE, according to Indian embassy figures. The embassy estimates about 60 % of those are blue-collar workers.

"The Indian government is aware that the UAE will employ thousands of Indian workers to organize the World Expo 2020, but after the recent Qatar experience, the government wants to send a clear message that India will not allow rampant exploitation of its workers,” an external affairs ministry official told Reuters.

In November, India launched a campaign for higher wages for its workers in the Gulf states. Indian diplomats raised the minimum salaries they recommend because of higher living costs.

UAE officials, including the labour minister, have said that labour legislation in the country is in line with the UAE constitution. Laws regulate the labour market, providing protection of workers and their rights, they said.

Several measures, including mid-day breaks for workers in the country's sweltering summer heat, better healthcare facilities and accommodation have been provided across the UAE.

"Lack of proper regulation by the authorities in both India and the UAE of the booming migrant-worker recruitment industry, including visa brokers, has allowed rogue recruiting agents to cause serious human rights abuses with impunity," Salil Shetty, secretary-general of Amnesty International, told to the news agency.

"Some welcome improvements by the UAE over the last decade have been put in serious doubt by the crackdown on labour activists and failure to carry out meaningful reform of the kafala system, further increasing the vulnerability of migrant workers to human rights abuses,” added Shetty.

Modi had earlier toured the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, in what analysts said was an attempt to put behind him allegations he had done nothing to save Indian Muslims during 2002 riots in which hundreds were killed.

Modi will meet Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan as well as Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed al Maktoum, who is also the UAE prime minister.

He will also be seeking to engage Abu Dhabi, one of the richest sovereign wealth funds in the world, to invest in India as well as expand cooperation in the energy sector. Abu Dhabi accounts for 9 % of India's energy needs and India wants to increase that, the official said.

"The orientation of the Gulf countries has always been towards U.S. and Europe, but the prime minister wants to highlight the benefits of investing in India and he wants to engage Abu Dhabi on long-term projects," the official said.