A Comprehensive advisory is given below for the benefit and welfare of Indian community in Kuwait.
Do's and Don’ts
• Indian emigrants are advised to retain their original passports as they are non-transferable Government of India documents. Passport should not be handed to Recruiting Agent /Foreign Employer for emigration clearance before being selected.
• Please ensure that you are not carrying any edible items with you.
• Possession of drugs and narcotics may result to life imprisonment or death sentence in Kuwait.
• Kindly ensure that you have employment Visa if you are going for employment. Any other visa will render you an illegal emigrant in the country if you are found to have been employed there.
• The moment one reaches the destination, please leave two names and telephone numbers of local contacts residing there with your family in India along with the address and telephone number of Embassy of India in Kuwait ( Telephone:22530600 , 22530612 - 14 ).
• If you are going as unskilled or domestic worker, kindly ensure that your employment documents are pre-attested by the Indian Mission in Kuwait of your proposed employment. Ladies below the age of 30 years going as housemaids are not eligible for employment abroad in ECR countries. For Kuwait, the employment of female domestic workers has been discontinued since 12.12.2014.
• If you are going abroad, leave a photocopy-set at home, of all your travel and employment documents.
• Be sure of your Recruiting Agent. Ask him to show his Registration Certificate issued by the Protector General of Emigrants, Govt. of India. Do not deal with him unless he is registered and the registration is valid. In case of doubt, check with any of the offices of the Protectors of Emigrants (POEs) or the Protector General of Emigrants (PGE).
• DO NOT deal with sub-agents as they are not permitted under the Emigration Act, 1983 and Rules.
• Ask the Recruiting Agent to show to you the Demand Letter and Power of Attorney from the foreign employer.
• Also carefully go through the Employment Contract detailing the salary/wage levels and other service conditions.
• DO NOT pay more than the equivalent of wages for forty five days as offered under the employment contract, subject to maximum of Rupees Twenty Thousand in respect of services provided and take a receipt of this payment.
• Pay preferably by Demand Draft or Cheque and obtain a receipt. Complaints of overcharging or cheating can be lodged with the concerned POE or with the Protector General of Emigrants (PGE).
FEW WORDS FOR INDIAN NURSES:
• Following intervention by the Embassy to stop irregularities in the recruitment of Indian nurses for work in Kuwait, the recruitment of Indian nurses for overseas employment in 17 ECR countries (both Private hospitals and Government hospitals) has been restricted through four State-run recruiting agencies namely; NORKA Roots, Kerala, Overseas Development and Employment Consultants (ODEPC), Kerala, Overseas Manpower Corporation Limited (OMCL) Chennai and Uttar Pradesh Financial Corporation through e-Migrate system.
• The Nurse profession has been placed under ECR regime. In other words, emigration clearance is now mandatory for them for seeking employment in any of the 17 ECR countries.
• There are reports of some unscrupulous agencies recruiting Indian nurses for Kuwait by arranging interview in a third country, in violation of regulations issued by the Government of India. One should resist such offers and inform the Embassy and the concerned Indian authorities.
• No advance money to be paid to any agent in India or in Kuwait.
• One should register and approach the above 4 designated agencies of State Manpower Corporations for seeking employment as a nurse in Kuwait.
CHECK BEFORE DEPARTURE
• Please ensure that designation/category is same on your visa for which
you have been recruited.
• Before departure the emigrant should collect all the numbers of Indian Missions of the country where he/she is going.
• Ensure you have a valid Passport at least for six months. A valid Visa must be either stamped on or accompany your Passport. Always keep a photocopy of your Passport and Visa.
• You must possess a copy of the Employment Contract signed by you and your foreign employer duly attested by the registered recruiting agent.
• Insist on a copy of Employment Contract in English duly authenticated by the recruiting agent.
• Open a Saving Bank N.R.E. Account in one of the Banks in India to enable you to send your remittances from abroad.
Acquaint yourself with local labor laws, working and living conditions of the country of employment. Keep complete address of the Indian Embassy with you.
IN THE COUNTRY OF YOUR EMPLOYMENT (KUWAIT )
• Obtain a Resident Permit or Identity Card, Labor Card or IQUAMA. DO NOT part with your Passport and copy of Employment Contract signed by you in India, at any cost.
• DO NOT sign any other Employment Contract or any blank paper. DO NOT strike work or resort to agitations. These are illegal under local labor laws. You could be arrested, imprisoned and also deported.
• AVOID all sexual contacts that may result in AIDS – a dreaded disease.
Keep in touch with the nearest Indian Embassy in Kuwait and report any complaints about non-payment or delayed payment of wages or compensations or any other problem to the Indian Embassy in Kuwait.
CUSTOMS FORMALITIES
• Personal baggage – Customs checking is VERY STRICT. Kindly co-operate with the Customs staff at the International Airport. Ensure that you do not carry any narcotics or alcoholic drinks. Alcohol is strictly prohibited. Its consumption is a serious offence attracting severe punishment.
• DO NOT accept any unchecked parcel from any one. If you have to take a parcel for someone, check thoroughly that it does not contain alcohol or narcotics. Otherwise, it may land you in serious difficulties on arrival in the country of employment.
RELIGION
• The State religion of all countries in the Gulf (and in Malaysia) is ISLAM. Public practice of any other religion is strictly prohibited.
PRECAUTIONS
• You must make and keep a photocopy of all the pages of your Passport. DO NOT lose your Passport or its photocopy.
• By chance if you misplace your Passport, inform the nearest Indian Mission immediately giving them details, i.e. Passport number, date and place of issue, your name and date of your entry in the country of employment. You can give these details only if you keep a photocopy of your Passport.
• DO NOT lose your copy of Employment Contract. Make photocopies and keep them with you always.
• You must have a full name, address, telephone/fax number of your foreign employer, before you leave India.
• If you have difficulty in locating your foreign employer, contact the nearest Indian Mission immediately.
• DO NOT accept temporary or permanent employment with another person or establishment other than that the sponsoring Company/ establishment/ person. Employment with persons other than your original sponsor is strictly prohibited and attracts severe punishment.
• Before the Visa or Employment Contract expires, get them renewed. If you are returning to India for a short while during the tenure of your Employment Contract abroad, ensure that the validity period of Visa does not expire before you return to the country of employment.
• Also ensure that your Passport is valid. At least six months before it is about to expire, get it revalidated from the concerned Indian Mission abroad or from the Regional Passport Office (RPO) in India.
FINAL NOTES
• No cremation facilities are available in Kuwait. Mortal remains need to be airlifted to India for this purpose. Burial facility is available to all expatriates.
2. The above suggestions are not exhaustive. A list of Indian Embassy officers is available on the website. Your suggestions/comments or views are most welcome.
Kuwait
17 May 2016