NEW DELHI — YSRCP Tirupati MP Maddila Gurumoorthy has voiced serious concerns regarding the welfare and safety of Indian migrant workers in Kuwait, particularly those hailing from the Rayalaseema region. The MP highlighted a range of issues, including the confiscation of passports by employers, wage exploitation, substandard living conditions, altered job roles, and instances of violence.
“Indian migrant workers in Kuwait, particularly those from the Rayalaseema region, face serious hardships,” said MP Gurumoorthy.
To address these pressing concerns, the YSRCP MP has taken a multi-pronged approach, engaging with both Indian and Kuwaiti authorities to seek swift resolution. He has formally written to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and the Ambassador of Kuwait to India, urging their immediate intervention to safeguard the rights and well-being of Indian workers in the Gulf nation. A formal representation has also been submitted to the Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs, requesting prompt action.
In a significant step, MP Gurumoorthy personally met with Mishal Mustafa Al-Shamali, the Ambassador of Kuwait to India, to directly discuss these critical issues. The Ambassador assured the MP that he would promptly take up the matter with the Kuwaiti government and ensure that necessary action is taken to address the concerns raised.
Recognizing the large expatriate population from Tirupati and surrounding areas working in Kuwait, MP Gurumoorthy has also strongly advocated for the establishment of a direct flight route between Kuwait and Tirupati. This initiative aims to significantly improve connectivity and ease travel for migrant workers.
The Kuwaiti authorities responded favorably to the proposal, informing MP Gurumoorthy that two airlines currently operate from Kuwait and that they would seriously consider the request. Furthermore, they indicated that the Kuwaiti government would formally communicate with India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu, regarding the direct flight proposal.
To expedite the process, MP Gurumoorthy has also submitted a formal request to the Civil Aviation Minister, urging the establishment of direct flight connectivity between Kuwait and Tirupati under the Open Sky Policy, with aircraft having a seating capacity of 400. The MP believes that such an agreement between the two governments would greatly benefit migrant workers and enhance overall connectivity between the regions.
MP Gurumoorthy emphasized that this initiative is being carried out under the leadership and guidance of YSRCP leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, with MP Meda Raghunandan Reddy also playing an active role. He reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to ensuring the welfare of Indian migrant workers and improving international travel facilities for the people of Tirupati and surrounding areas..
The situation of Indian workers in Kuwait has been in focus recently after a fire in a Kuwait labour camp claimed the lives of 46 Indian workers. The YSRCP’s actions highlight the vulnerability of Indian migrant workers in the gulf. In Kuwait, Indian carpenters, masons, electricians, construction site laborers, factory and domestic workers and food delivery agents constitute nearly a fifth of the country’s workforce. Indians remain the largest migrant community in Kuwait, with an estimated population exceeding 9 lakh.
