THE Indian government’s plan to change the colour of the passport of some migrant workers has been condemned as “discriminatory” by members of the community in Bahrain.
Such a move could add to the exploitation of unskilled labourers, especially in the Gulf, they claimed.
Last Friday, India’s External Affairs Ministry announced plans to change the colour of the passport from navy blue to orange for people with Emigration Clearance Required (ECR) status.
The ECR status is issued for applicants who have not passed the equivalent of 10th grade at school.
They need clearance from the Protector of Emigrants when they seek jobs in 18 countries, including the GCC countries.
“Passport-holders with ECR status would be issued orange-coloured passports and those with non-ECR status will continue to get blue passports,” said ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar.
The ministry said the move was aimed at protecting vulnerable labourers from exploitation abroad.
However, the government is yet to release details of the plan, including a time-line for its implementation.
The plan has been condemned by prominent political and social leaders in India and abroad, with welfare activists in Bahrain questioning the rationale behind the move.
“Why should citizens of one country have different coloured passports,” said Migrant Workers Protection Society chairwoman Mariatta Dias.
“It is a very strange decision. Unless the government has a good reason, it is totally unfair to have an orange passport for unskilled workers.
“This is like treating the (low income) migrant workers as second-class citizens.
“What happens when an unskilled worker pursues his education, rises higher in the ranks and becomes eligible for a blue passport?
“These men and women are already victims of ill treatment and exploitation in this part of the world. The new move will expose them to a wider scope of discrimination and will add to the endless trouble that we have with the migrant workers.”
The Indian External Affairs Ministry said the change would make it easier for immigration and law enforcement officers to spot travellers who required screening before they left for certain countries.
It would also make human trafficking more difficult as border officials would know who needed extra permission to travel.
“The move to differentiate people by the colour of their passports will send a wrong message about India,” Indian Community Relief Fund chairman Bhagwan Asarpota told the GDN.
“For a layman this is nothing but discrimination. The Indian government should come up with another option.”
India is the world’s largest exporter of migrant labour with an estimated six million migrants in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman.
There are regular cases of these people being duped by job agents and trapped in low-paying jobs with limited benefits and protections.
“It is said that currently one in every 10 international migrant workers is an Indian,” said academician Joel Indrupati.
“While the Indian migrant workers going to Europe and North America are mostly white-collared, those coming to the Arabian Gulf are mostly blue-collared.
“And these are the ones who will be most affected by this careless decision.
“It is well-known that many blue-collared workers are already suffering from unfair contracts.
“They work in jobs which do not allow them much authority to demand their rights.
“Their passports are often held by employers, and it prevents them from voicing their dissent.
“They are already discriminated against.
“Now, the discrimination will begin at the host country’s airport itself when the worker lands.
“Based on the colour of their passports, they will be immediately treated as second-class citizens, at all places wherever identity proof is needed.
“This passport colour distinction will create a class divide which is completely unnecessary.”
raji@gdn.com.bh
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