An Indian worker who is forced out of his job in Qatar would now be entitled to his salary and emoluments for the full contract period of his employment.This is possible thanks to a new agreement - an additional protocol to all the already existing bilateral pact on the regulation of employment of Indian manpower of 1985 - that was signed by minister for overseas Indian affairs Vayalar Ravi and Sultan Bin Hassan Al Ahabit Al-Dosari, minister of labour and social affairs of Qatar, today.Qatar, which has been a popular destination for skilled and semi-skilled Indian workers, presently has about 1.5 lakh expat Indians.Ravi said the new protocol was a bilateral response to the changing business environment and need for reforms in work conditions."The protocol is based on the principle of benefit of all - the workers, the employers, the sending country and the receiving country."The agreement makes it mandatory for India and Qatar to review the working conditions of Indians at ministerial level meet twice a year.The protocol seeks to launch the welfare schemes for the workers in unorganised sectors. According to Ravi, this would help a large number of Indians as people in the unorganised sector are most vulnerable to exploitation.Qatar officials said they were looking forward to a big influx of Indian workers as the country had laid down huge development plans.Last year about 76,324 Indian workers had gone to Qatar on work visas.The bilateral agreement is significant as it comes in the wake of expatriate workers holding protest demonstrations in Dubai against dwindling wages and rising costs.Ravi said India was likely to sign a worker protection agreement with Poland and even with the European Union in view of Indian workers being in great demand there.
