Destination Gulf

Destination Gulf
EDITORIAL


The Abu Dhabi Declaration is undoubtedly the first major move to recognise and entrust the joint responsibility of the countries of origin and destination to work to prevent illegal recruitment practices and to promote transparent recruitment and employment policies to safeguard the interest of the temporary labourers. It is also significant that it coincides with the initiative of the government of Goa to curb the activities of the shady operators who are involved in the trade of outflow of manpower to the Gulf countries. The Declaration adopted by 20 countries of origin and destination recognises the ordeals faced by the labourers, particularly from Asia, and pledges to do away with the system of illegal recruitment within three months. One of the key provisions of the Declaration has been to share information on labour market trends and patterns of remittances among the countries and build the ability to effectively match the demand and supply of temporary contractual labour through the entire migratory cycle. No doubt the Declaration is a forward-looking document, which paves the way for the better management of temporary contractual labour mobility. Nevertheless it ought to be borne in mind that a better managed labour mobility is in the interest of country of destination. Since job markets abroad are lucrative and at the same time exploitative, the government of India and also the NRI Affairs panel of Goa should undertake the task of identifying the areas in which greater cooperation to protect the workers interest could be undertaken with the Gulf countries