New Delhi:
Government has identified 355 foreign employers who were found to be harassing Indian workers abroad, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
"Foreign employers who were found to be harassing the Indian workers are placed in the Prior Approval Category. At present, 355 foreign employers are in Prior Approval Category list," Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said.
He said Indian Missions abroad receive complaints of exploitation against recruiting agents and foreign employers and after due enquiry, action is taken.
Ravi said India has signed bilateral pacts with many countries including United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Malaysia to protect the Indian workers against exploitation and malpractices.
Replying to another question, he said the task of setting up the first PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) university at Bangalore has been entrusted to the Manipal Academy of Higher Education Trust.
He said the Ministry was drafting a Bill to enact legislation for setting up the proposed university.
"The first PIO university is expected to start functioning on completion of necessary formalities and procedures prescribed by regulatory bodies," Ravi added.
House report on NRI voting rights bill stuck in Law MinistryA parliamentary standing committee report on a Bill proposing to give voting rights to NRIs has been pending with the Union Law Ministry for nearly three years; Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
Replying to a question on the proposed Bill, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said Law Ministry was "examining the report" of the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances Law and Justice on the Bill.
The Bill proposing to grant of voting rights to Indian citizens living abroad was introduced in Rajya Sabha in February 2006 and subsequently it was sent to the Standing Committee.
The Standing Committee had presented its report to the Parliament in August 2006. Ravi said the Bill permits Indian citizens residing outside India to get their names registered in the electoral roll of their respective constituency and cast their votes in the elections in case they are present in their area of residence during elections.
Relying to another question, he said the ministry was in the process of finalising a proposal to replace the existing Emigration Act 1983 with a new law.