Indian Workers Resource Center launched in UAE

• The Union Ministry of Overseas Affairs has now initiated as a pilot project, a free, walk-in resource centre providing Indian workers, especially semi-skilled and unskilled labourers, direct access to welfare services in the United Arab Emirates, located in Dubai.
  
• The Indian Workers Resource Centre (IWRC) was inaugurated by President Pratibha Patil, who is on a goodwill tour of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Syria.
• He added that while the UAE centre was the first, the government hoped to create such facilities in other countries with a large NRI population.
• Of the 25 million overseas Indians, 10 million are NRIs, Indian passport-holders, and of these 5.5 million are in the Gulf. The United Arab Emirates accounts for 1.7 million, of which close to 70 per cent are blue collar workers, many working in appalling conditions.
• Now, workers in distress can call a toll-free number, 800 46342 (800-India), from anywhere in the UAE to seek counselling, information or advice relating to legal issues such as contracts and financial matters.