Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today raised the issue of deportation of illegal Indian workers with Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, asking him to ensure full protection of the labour welfare measures to them.
This comes in the backdrop of deportation of a large number of illegal Indian workers from Gulf countries, including Kuwait following strict implementation of their labour laws.
Noting that there were more than seven million Indian workers earning their livelihood in Kuwait, Singh said given that many of them are unskilled or semi-skilled workers "I requested the Prime Minister for the continued support of the Kuwaiti leadership to ensure that the full protection of Kuwaiti laws and labour welfare measures is available to them".
The Kuwaiti leader appreciated the contribution made by Indian workers in his country.
Officials in Ministry of External Affairs had said that 4,500 to 5,000 illegal Indian workers have been sent back by Kuwait this year.
Earlier this week, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi had said that around 1.34 lakh Indians have come back from Saudi Arabia after the country launched a strict inspection campaign to target illegal foreigners earlier this year and the extended deadline expired on November 3.
