Zero tolerance for illegal immigration to Gulf: Govt
Govt has warned that it would deal sternly with the immigrants who make their way illegally to the UAE and other Gulf nations.
By PTI |
ABU DHABI: Govt has warned that it would deal sternly with the immigrants who make their way illegally to the UAE and other Gulf nations.
"There will be zero tolerance to the illegal immigration in the UAE", Indian Ambassador to UAE Talmiz Ahmad said while speaking at a function in Abu Dhabi Thursday to honour the Indian community members during the general amnesty of 2007.
The UAE government announced a three-month amnesty giving illegal immigrants a chance to either regularise themselves or leave the country without any punishment.
India, which is playing important role in the region and world, cannot afford its citizens in such conditions anymore, Ahmad said.
The Indian government is trying to put the recruitment system for the Gulf in order to avoid such situation, when the measures like amnesty are needed any further. There are nearly five million Indians working in the region.
On the problem of maids, the Indian envoy said a majority of the complaints of ill-treatment from them in the UAE are against their own compatriot employers.
About 50 per cent of the Indian housemaids in the UAE are employed with Indian families and 50 per cent of them complain of ill treatment.
Ahmad said no complaints arose from legal immigrants whose job contract was attested by the Indian Embassy and Consulate in the UAE.
"Most of them have come on a visit visa and a majority of them are illiterate," he said, adding that the decision by the UAE to streamline issuing of visit visa can curb the trend.
Ahmad said he will not fix a higher minimum wage for maids as it may open the flood-gates for illegal immigration.
"Discussions are on with various people in the country to make a realistic decision," the ambassador added.
"There will be zero tolerance to the illegal immigration in the UAE", Indian Ambassador to UAE Talmiz Ahmad said while speaking at a function in Abu Dhabi Thursday to honour the Indian community members during the general amnesty of 2007.
The UAE government announced a three-month amnesty giving illegal immigrants a chance to either regularise themselves or leave the country without any punishment.
India, which is playing important role in the region and world, cannot afford its citizens in such conditions anymore, Ahmad said.
The Indian government is trying to put the recruitment system for the Gulf in order to avoid such situation, when the measures like amnesty are needed any further. There are nearly five million Indians working in the region.
On the problem of maids, the Indian envoy said a majority of the complaints of ill-treatment from them in the UAE are against their own compatriot employers.
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About 50 per cent of the Indian housemaids in the UAE are employed with Indian families and 50 per cent of them complain of ill treatment.
Ahmad said no complaints arose from legal immigrants whose job contract was attested by the Indian Embassy and Consulate in the UAE.
"Most of them have come on a visit visa and a majority of them are illiterate," he said, adding that the decision by the UAE to streamline issuing of visit visa can curb the trend.
Ahmad said he will not fix a higher minimum wage for maids as it may open the flood-gates for illegal immigration.
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"Discussions are on with various people in the country to make a realistic decision," the ambassador added.
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