Hyderabad: Several organised syndicates are trafficking women to Gulf countries on tourist visas in order to avoid tedious legal procedures.
As per official requirements, those wishing to work as housemaids, are supposed to be under the age of 30. They are supposed to go through the legal channel of the Protector of Emigrants office. Employers have to furnish the Indian embassies in their respective countries with copies of the work agreements along with a guarantee of 2,500 USD for each employee.
M. Bheem Reddy of the Migrants Rights Council says, “It ensures the safety of migrant workers. In case of any trouble, they can easily be tracked down. However, they avoid the legal procedure and opt for alternatives which do not entail any liabilities.”
Agents usually secure tourist visas through local tour operators and assure employees that they will be converted to work visas upon arrival at their destination countries. They also arrange for passports and ensure that they depart from India.
Amjed Ullah Khan, the leader of the Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT), says, “Sometimes the agents convert tourist visas into work visas with help from the employers, but sometimes they don’t. After expiry of the tourist visa, the immigrants stay there illegally, and so they are at the mercy of employers.”
Employers procure employees through agencies in their respective countries. They pay an amount equivalent to between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 5 lakh for each employee.
