India, Bahrain to sign MoU on labour cooperation

India and Bahrain will sign a memorandum of understanding on labour and manpower co-operation during Labour Minister Majeed Al Alawi's visit to New Delhi next month.

"I shall make use of the opportunity to sign the MoU, which will help further strengthen the ties between Bahrain and India in labour and manpower areas," Alwai, who met the Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty in Manama, was quoted as saying in local media on Monday.

India was this month forced to put on hold a proposed measure which disallowed its unskilled workers to leave for Bahrain unless they had contracts from employers stipulating the minimum wage of BD100 (around Rs 10,481) following resistance from the Gulf country.

Alwai said the relations between the two countries go beyond labour matters. "Historically and culturally we are strong partners. Every effort should be made to take this relationship to new heights," he said.

During

an Abu Dhabi meeting on labour export in January, Alawi had met Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vyalar Ravi who had called on Bahrain to sign the MoU as other Gulf nations, including the UAE, had inked similar agreements.

Shetty said the MoU would protect the welfare of Indian workers in Bahrain. "It also helps ensure the smooth flow of workers from India to Bahrain as per the requirements of the kingdom. The MoU will cover a clause to ensure that the right person is recruited for the right job with proper salary."

Another highlight of the MoU will be provision for joint recruitment and training of workers by both countries, said Shetty, adding it comes at a time when both Bahrain and India are implementing major labour reforms.