ADILABAD: The Centre’s cancellation of earlier circulars reducing the minimum referral wages (MRW) to employees who migrate to Gulf countries has brought relief to thousands of distressed migrant workers from Telangana.
It is said that the Union government has reduced MRW to withstand international competition as far as employment for migrant labourers was concerned since many neighbouring countries were sending cheap labour.
The external affairs ministry reportedly took the decision to reduce MRW since many Gulf companies were facing financial crisis and wanted to remove their employees. The ministry issued a fresh circular cancelling the lowering of wages that was issued on July 15.
The fresh circular said that the matter has been re-examined and it has decided to withdraw earlier circulars and minimum referral wages applicable prior to the issue of the circulars are restored in respect of various job designations.
It is said that the Overseas Employment and protector General of Emigrants Division issued two circulars on September 8 and 21 last year lowering the minimum wages by up to 30-40 per cent in the previous wages for new recruits. It was applicable for Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Pravasi Mitra Labour Union state president Parikipandla Swadesh said that cancellation of the reduction of referral wages fixed 10 months ago will help those going to the Gulf for employment.
He said nearly 15 lakh labourers from Telangana are working in the Gulf and they did not understand why the Centre had reduced the minimum wage to 728 Riyals when Qatar government was ready to pay 1,000 Riyals.
Adilabad BJP MP Soyam Bapurao, who was a member of the standing committee of the ministry of external affairs, said he tried his best to get the circulars cancelled following representations from various associations from Telangana and to protect the interests of migrant labourers.
