Hard times

The reports of problems faced by Indian labour in Iraq has shocked many, although the situation should have come as no surprise to anyone with even an elementary knowledge of the near-anarchy prevailing in that country. Reports of individual cases of maltreatment have, unfortunately, been surfacing for decades. But we need to see the current cases in their correct perspective. Public concern about hardships and the maltreatment of Indians anywhere is legitimate. After all, no liberal democracy can or should ever condone this. But what is perhaps even more important is to evolve measures that should be taken to rectify the situation. The sentimental desire for some action and the consequent pressure on the government in the middle of an election to do something about the situation could easily distort the issue, without throwing up meaningful solutions.

We need, first of all, to understand the scenario with some clarity. There are many categories of Indians in Iraq today. There are those, for instance, who have been working there even before the war last year 8212; some of whom have been living in Iraq for decades, even generations. A lot of these people would have lost their jobs in the upheaval caused by the war and its aftermath, and would be looking for sources of subsistence and employment in a country now mired in lawlessness. There are also many who have recently gone to Iraq in search of jobs, either legally or otherwise, either through contractors or independently. The emoluments on offer 8212; going by the hazards involved 8212; are much higher than normal. Many, therefore, are willing to risk their lives in order to get these jobs, which are in great demand. A single US contractor has 100,000 applicants on its waiting list!

The question that we should be asking ourselves is what can India do to make life more secure for its citizens working in Iraq. The Indian embassy in Baghdad would obviously have to help as much as it possibly can under extremely uncertain conditions, by keeping a tab on the numbers coming in and offering basic assistance to those in need of it. It is important to ensure that job-seekers are made aware of the many dimensions of the Iraqi reality. This also entails helping them to negotiate appropriate compensation for the hazards that are entailed in the jobs they seek. The problem, of course, is likely to be the most acute in the case of labour promoted by unscrupulous contractors. Illegal entrants, who are the most likely to be exploited, are unfortunately the very ones who are the most unlikely to seek official help should things go wrong. Government monitoring could play a role in identifying such contractors and ensuring that hapless workers don8217;t fall prey to their machinations.