India, Kuwait MoU to streamline workers recruitment

India and Kuwait on June 10, 2021, signed a MoU that brings Indian domestic workers in the Gulf nation within a legal framework that provides them with the protection of the law and streamlines their recruitment.

The MoU was signed on Thursday by Indian ambassador Sibi George and deputy minister for foreign affairs of Kuwait Majdi Ahmad Al-Dhafiri in the presence of visiting external affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah.

The MoU also introduces an employment contract to ensure the rights and obligations of employers and workers, and a mechanism for 24-hour assistance to workers. A joint committee will be created to carry out periodic reviews and follow up the implementation of the MoU. With this MoU, the total number of agreements between the two countries has gone up to 34.

The two sides reviewed bilateral ties and discussed challenges posed by the Covid-19 crisis. They reiterated their commitment to jointly fight the pandemic and address issues faced by citizens of both sides, such as travel restrictions and matters related to vaccination.

The meeting also focused on cooperation in food security, cyber security, healthcare, education and the energy sector and issues related to the Indian workforce in Kuwait.

The two sides agreed to hold the first meeting of the bilateral joint commission later this year and to set dates for early meetings of the joint working groups on health, hydrocarbons and manpower.