The government on Monday said it proposed to issue smart cards in about a month's time and set up a 24-hour helpline for migrant Indian workers to protect them from 'exploitation'.
"We will be introducing an electronic emigration card (smart card) in a months time to protect vulnerable workers from exploitation by unscrupulous agents, employers and emigration staff and eliminate corruption in the system," Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Jagdish Tytler said in New Delhi at an interactive session with Forum of Financial Writers.
Tytler said the chip in the smart card will contain all the information about the worker like where the person is employed, nature of job, contract and salary.
In case they face any problem, all this information will be utilised for the benefit of the worker.
"A proposal to introduce a 24-hour helpline is under active consideration of the ministry," Tytler said.
Besides taking various steps to streamline emigration clearance, the ministry is also considering getting the recruiting agents rated by an independent agency.
"We are also coming out with a scheme to provide legal assistance to workers for release of payments towards death compensation and other dues from foreign employers," he said, adding the government is trying to provide better insurance options to emigrant workers.
Among other initiatives, Tytler said India is making efforts to sign Memorandum of Understanding with major labour receiving countries in order to assist in the settlement of labour disputes.
Government is also considering imparting pre-departure training and orientation programmes and posting welfare officers in the Gulf countries.
