INDIA yesterday pledged to help the Bahrain government to stamp out free visa racket in the country.
A campaign is being launched shortly by the Indian government through its official television channel to stop its nationals becoming victims of free visa rackets in the Gulf.
Doordarshan will produce programmes aimed at educating job seekers on the actual labour situation in the Gulf, said Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty.
"Many of our nationals still fall into the trap of free visa racketeers in the Gulf," he told the GDN.
"Such people come here without jobs or contracts. If they approach us when they are in problem, the embassy will not be in a position to help them.
"Doordarshan, India's official television channel, is being hired to produce a series of programmes on employment situation abroad, especially in the Gulf."
Mr Shetty said that he is disturbed to see that many Indian nationals still arrive in Bahrain after paying huge amounts for free visas.
"This shows that free visa racket is still live and active in Bahrain. We want to support the Bahrain government's efforts to eliminate this racket," he added.
"In fact, expatriate workers' salary in the Gulf dropped considerably over the years, and one of the prime reasons for the same is the growth of the free visa racket.
"During the 1970s when the oil price per barrel was only $8 (BD3), the average salary of the Indian labourer was about BD60 to BD70 per month.
"It is sad and shocking to see that when the oil price has soared to $73 (BD27), the wages have dropped to BD40- BD50."
Mr Shetty also appealed to his nationals who seek jobs in Bahrain not to buy visit visa or free visa.
"Those who come here on visit visa are not allowed to work and they should come on proper employment visa," he added.
"The proposed television programmes will get this message across to Gulf jobseekers back home."
Mr Shetty said plans to grant immigration clearance only to those who hold an employment contract attested by the Indian embassies in the Gulf are put on a temporary hold.
The new rule was scheduled to come into force yesterday.
"However, it is being postponed as the Indian Ambassadors to Saudi Arabia and the UAE have asked for more time to implement it because of shortage of staff at the respective embassies," said Mr Shetty.