Gulf news Oman UAE Saudi Kuwait Qatar, Bahrain Kerala Monitor workers

Expatriate Van Salesman face job threat

Bahrain plans Minimum Wages Act, Second Amnesty will end by January 31, 2002.

Expatriate Van Salesman face job threat

The Indian workers in Oman are facing yet another challenge to job security. Large number of Indians, especially Malayalis, who are working as 'Van Salesman' are being checked to find out whether they are carrying any vegetables. The Ministry of Labour officials are reportedly checking most of the 'Vans' which carry grocery and other products to various supermarkets in the interor. In Saham and adjacent places, about sixty Vans are being stopped and checked by the concerned officers.

Some people said they are given an official letter by the Ministry asking their sponsors to replace the expatriates and employ Omanis. Even though driving profession has been Omanised several years ago, many traders still employ expatriates as van salesman. They do multiple jobs simultaneously - driver of the Van, salesman, accountant etc. There are thousands of Malayalis who work as van salesman. Many of them bring goods from Dubai, distribute in Muscat and other interior parts.

Already there is utter confusion about the fate of large number of Indians who are working in the Vegetable and fruit market. According to the Ministry of Labour, expatriates had to leave this profession by January 1, 2002. Since it did not happen, there was labour checking in various vegetable markets.

Bahrain plans Minimum Wages Act, Second Amnesty will end by January 31, 2002.

Since large number of expatriates who used to work for low salaries are being replaced with Arab nationals in various Gulf countries, the Governments in these countries started taking initiatives to introduce more labour welfare measures and fix minimum wages. The first step in this direction is being taken by the Government of Bahrain from where thousands of Indian expatriates are leaving through an amnesty scheme.

Bahrain's Labour and Social Affairs Minister Abdulnabi Al Sho'ala will meet representatives of the businessmen and workers to introduce a Minimum Wage Act (MWA) and fix minimum wage level for workers, or increase the average wage level in Bahrain. In an exclusive interview with the Manama based Gulf Daily News, the minister said that a decision has been taken by the Government of Bahrain to increase the wage level and increase wage level for Bahrainis. The idea is to help make the labour market more competitive, the minister said.

The Government of Bahrain has introduced the amnesty scheme two times in the last two years to aid large number of "illegal workers' who have been working there. To control employees who violate labour laws by various means including non payment of salary, the Bahrain Government has imposed some new rules like allowing them to change sponsors without the approval of Arab sponsors, if they fail to pay for the work. The ongoing amnesty scheme will end on January 31, 2002.

The Gulf Countries have chalked out a common strategy to get rid of several million expatriate workers and replace them with local nationals. Due to growing unemployment and social unrest the Gulf Governments want to find employment opportunities for large number of Arab youth, who commplete school and university education every year.

 <center><SCRIPT language="JavaScript" src="http://www.my-kerala.com/b/m/maya.js"> /SCRIPT> </center>