India warn against working in Saudi, Bahrain, UAE fishing vessels

Indian migrants have been advised not to take up fishing jobs on trawlers or vessels that may move towards Iran from  Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain, reports TheNewsMinute.com, citing a special advisory released by the Protector General of Emigrants.

All registered recruitment agents and Protector of Emigrants offices in India have been advised not to process applications from potential migrants looking for jobs on fishing vessels in the three countries, the report adds.

The move comes at a time when several reports indicated many Indian fishermen were held in Iranian jail for their vessels allegedly ventured into Iranian waters.

“They are kept under custody in Iranian ports by the country’s Coast Guard, and it takes months for the fishermen to prove their innocence and reach their destination,” the report said.

Sr Josephine Valarmathi of National Domestic Workers Movement in Chennai, who have worked on the release of such fishermen said  a blanket ban wouldn’t do any good.  “ It’s the right of person to migrate and find a job. Government should not stop them by putting a blanket ban,” she told TheNewsMinute.com

Arul Antony from the National Domestic Workers Movement says that a better solution would be to work on India-Iran bilateral treaties.