STATEMENT BY SHRI EDUARDO FALEIRO, COMMISSIONER FOR NRI AFFAIRS, AT HIS PRESS BRIEFING
(November 18, 2009) I was in Muscat (Oman) earlier this month. The purpose of my visit was to attend the Global Goans Convention. This is an annual event which brings together non-resident Goans from across the world and is held by rotation in different continents and in regions where there is a significant population of non-resident Goans. It was held last year in Canada, in Portugal in 2007 and earlier in Goa. The Convention was organized by the Goan community in Oman (GCO) in association with the Embassy of India in Muscat. It drew about 300 participants from every country in the Gulf region and from elsewhere in the world. For the first time, the Convention had a session on Konkani Language and Culture, the Konkani Vishwa Samelan, involving Konkani speaking expatriates from Goa and neighbouring areas, a session on Self employment Opportunities for NRGs and an Open House for domestic and industrial workers. The Konkani Vishwa Samelan conveyed the need to promote Konkani as an essential element of our identity. It suggested several measures such as Konkani speaking people abroad should hold regular elocution and essay competitions in Konkani for their school and college going children. The Radio Goa, based in Dubai, which disseminates news and music in Konkani on the Internet 24 hours 7 days a week was much appreciated at the Convention. The Convention concluded with a cultural programme of a high quality in Konkani involving about 150 artists, young and not so young, from Goa and Mangalore and even Goans settled in such remote countries as Malawi. The session on Self employment opportunities for NRGs discussed the question of financial assistance and incentives for setting up self-employment ventures by NRGs in Goa as well as the need of a single window for the various Government clearances. A Committee will be constituted by this Department to deal with these issues and to generally facilitate self employment ventures by expatriate Goans. The Committee will be chaired by Shri Nitin Kuncolienkar, former President GCCI, and will have both official and non-official members. At the Open House for domestic and industrial workers, the Ambassador of India in Oman, Shri Anil Wadhwa, and senior officials of the Indian Embassy were present. Several of the problems raised by Goan workers were resolved on the spot. The Embassy circulated a note on Dos and Donts for Indian emigrant workers. A copy of this note is enclosed. Our Embassy in Oman has taken several measures to ensure the welfare of the Indian workforce. On third Friday of every month, an Open House is held at the Embassy premises for redressal of grievances of Indian expatriates and there is a Helpline which functions at the Embassy 24 hours every day of the week. The Embassy has engaged three legal firms which provide free legal aid and advice to NRIs and open meetings are held for this purpose at the Embassy premises twice a week. The Embassy takes into confidence the different organizations of the Indian community in Oman to find solutions and redress the grievances of our people in that country. I have received a request to hold the Global Goans Convention 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. The Convention will be held there next year under the auspices of the Australian Goan Association. There are about 22,000 Goans in Melbourne. (ends) Dos and Donts for Indian Emigrant Workers Dos: - Do ensure that you have a valid passport. The passport should preferably be valid at least for the next six months so that no immediate inconvenience is caused to you on your reaching the country of employment. - Do ensure that you are recruited through an authorized Recruiting Agent. Insist on seeing his registration certificate issued by the Protector-General of Emigrants at Delhi. In case of doubt, contact the nearest Protector of Emigrants Office. - Do ensure that your recruiting agent has the original of the following document: (i) The Power of Attorney duly executed by the Foreign Employer authorizing the agent to recruit workers on his behalf; (ii) The Demand letter indicating the type of workers required by him and salaries/perquisites offered by him to the workers; (iii) The specimen copy of the employment agreement proposed to be executed; and (iv) Visa issued in your name/favour by the foreign Government. - Do ensure that the employment documents are attested by the Indian Mission in the country of employment, if you are going as an unskilled worker/Household Service Worker. - Do ensure that you have with you a copy of the employment agreement signed between you and your foreign employer or his agent. - Do ensure that the employment agreement clearly specifies the name and complete postal address of your employer, salaries per month in foreign currency, duration of contract/agreement, facility for free/subsidized housing, messing or allowances in lieu thereof, to and fro passage, medical facility, etc. - Do ensure that in case of employment in the Gulf countries, the employment agreement is both in English and Arabic. - Do ensure that you have opened a Savings Bank Account in one of the banks in India before departure in order to ensure smooth inflow of remittances for your dependents in India. - Do ensure that you have a proper ticket and a valid visa stamped on your passport before you emplane. - Do ensure that you are familiar with the provisions of the local labour laws. You may either request your agent or contact the nearest Protector of Emigrants for this purpose. - Do ensure that you have been briefed by your Recruiting Agent about the working/living conditions in the country of employment. - Do ensure that after your arrival in the country of employment you have obtained resident permit/identity card. - Do ensure that you have obtained a copy of the contract. - In case of any difficulty, do contact the Indian Mission in the country of employment. - Do note that before final departure for India on termination of contract, you contact the Indian Mission in respective countries for latest customs and baggage regulations etc. - Do ensure that a copy of your passport is available with you and your family back home. DONTS - Do not pay any money to your agent without obtaining a valid receipt. - Do not sign the employment agreement unless you have read it or it has been read out to you and you have understood all the clauses in it. - Do not sign any blank paper on your arrival in the country of employment or allow the employer to execute any agreement other than the one signed by you in India and registered with the Protector of Emigrants. - Do not leave India unless you are satisfied that your employer knows the exact date and time of your arrival so that you are not stranded there. - Do not indulge in any collective industrial action like strikes, go-slow and mass demonstrations etc. while in employment abroad as they are illegal and strictly banned. Your involvement in any such activities may result in your imprisonment or deportation back to India. - Do not change your sponsor/employer in the foreign country during the period of agreement. Otherwise, you are liable to fine and other action under the local labour laws. - Do not indulge in non-Islamic religious practices during your stay in those countries like eating, drinking, or smoking in public places during the month of Ramzan. - Do not keep in your possession or consume alcoholic drinks during your stay in the Gulf countries as it is strictly prohibited by the respective Governments. - Do not part with your passport and other documents during your stay abroad. - Do not move away from the work site without valid identity card issued by your employer. - Do not fall prey to touts/sub-agents who may exploit you.
