Indian social workers in Bahrain will now be trained by lawyers in the country to make them aware of the laws there so that they can become proper guides and advisors to immigrants.
The social workers, who interact with the community and help them when they need help, should be aware of what procedures to follow if they have to be proper guides and advisors, Indian Ambassador Mohan Kumar said after an Open House at the embassy in Adliya.
"They have to be, therefore, aware of what they should do. We will invite all social workers to the embassy where they will be briefed by embassy lawyers, including Bahrainis. This will help them give proper advice to those with problems," Kumar was quoted as saying by the Gulf Daily News.
The ambassador said all those leaving India to work overseas should also be properly briefed on what to expect.
"They should be made aware of the law, their rights and what to do in case of any problems. One of the main things is that many workers are unaware of their rights. They get conned into signing blank papers, improper contracts and are generally misguided. This has to stop," he said.
He said most workers end up in trouble with unpaid wages, no proper leave and unsatisfactory working conditions. "We have to ensure this is not the case. So social workers who interact with such workers have to be well-versed in the law."
Kumar also urged workers to immediately contact the embassy in case they had not been paid on time.
"No one should wait for a long time. They should inform us so we can initiate some action," he said.
