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12 Asian Countries, Gulf Cooperation Council Talk on Migrants

Wage protection, speedy dispute settlement decided

Kuwaiti minister points out missing 'kafala' (sponsorship) issue

Staff Correspondent
A wage protection programme, speedier labour dispute settlement, skill development and pre-departure orientation were among the measures Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) decided to undertake to improve the work and living conditions of around 15 million foreign workers, including five million Bangladeshis, in its member states.
Decided at the November 26-67
talks between ministers of 12 Asian labour-sending countries and GCC, the wage protection programme obliges GCC states to use banks in ensuring workers' payments and easy monitoring, reported Gulf-based newspapers.
However, the much criticised "kafala" (sponsorship) system, making it mandatory for workers to get their sponsor's consent when changing jobs, was not raised at the confer-
ence, said Kuwaiti Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Hind Al Subaih.
The GCC states - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - over the years were repeatedly and strongly criticised by international rights groups over the alleged maltreatment of foreign workers, particularly domestic helps.
Just last week, 90 international rights and labour groups, in a joint statement, called for urgent action to protect migrant workers, especially maids.
Bangladeshi migrant workers face the added woe of becoming victims of exploitation by their sending agencies at home.
"We have to put emphasis on our workers' skill development so that they can find better jobs and salaries," Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Khondaker Showkat Hossain told The Daily Star.
He is one of the three ministry officials who accompanied Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain to the talks, which also agreed on strengthening protection and improving conditions of employment.
"The issue of expatriate manpower cannot be effectively managed, and their protection and rights cannot be improved without a strong partnership between receiving and sending countries," Omar Al Nuaimi, Emi rati labour ministry undersecretary for policies and strategy, told Gulf News.
The ministers also welcomed a proposal by International Labour Organization to assist preventing abuse in the recruitment process, protecting workers' rights, improving regulation and strengthening oversight of private recruitment, said a report of Gulf News.