Kavita, an Andhra Pradesh resident who went to Kuwait to earn a living, has released a
disturbing video alleging abuse by her employer. In the video, Kavita, from Annamaya
district, seeks help from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Ram Prasad Reddy to save her from
her plight. She said she was subjected to severe physical and mental pain, and her condition
seemed to worsen after being locked in a room without food by her employer.
Plea for Help
Kavita’s proposal does not address the dire conditions faced by many Indian migrant workers in
the Gulf countries, particularly under the Kafala system. In her video, she pleads with the pastor
saying, “Please save me, sir. I am being tortured here, I have two children and a disabled
husband. “I came to Kuwait because of them, but here I am treated badly.”
It is clear as she shared how sad she felt in a foreign country where she was separated from his
loved ones. Kavita said that after she came to Kuwait to support her family, her condition
worsened. His employer not only put her in prison but also ensured that she was cut off
from the outside world. She claims that the agent who arranged her trip to Kuwait threatened
her and blocked her phone, making it impossible to contact her family or the local authorities.
Government Response
Responding quickly to this dire situation, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Ram Prasad Reddy wrote to Union Minister Kondapally Srinivas. In his letter, Mr. Reddy intervened immediately to
save Kavita and her return to India. The minister’s swift action reflects a growing awareness of
the dangers faced by migrant workers when working abroad, particularly in areas with lax labor
laws, which are not warranted.
This work is not isolated. Abuse of migrant workers is a very old problem in the Gulf
countries, and several reports of such abuse over the years have been notified. The kafala
system, prevalent in countries such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, is a form of financial
support that ties workers’ legal and residential status to their employers. This system often
exposes workers to abuse with little recourse to legal action.
Exploitation under the Kafala System
Under the kafala system, migrant workers are at the mercy of their employers because they
cannot leave their job or the country without the employer’s permission. This leads to cases of
forced labor, abusive working conditions, and in extreme cases, physical and psychological
abuse, like that in Kavita’s case. Many workers are told by local officials that they promise
good-paying jobs abroad. However, once there, workers find themselves in violent
environments with little enforcement of the law. Their passports are often revoked without
escape.
Kavita’s situation illustrates the general dilemma that many rural and poor Indian women face
when seeking work abroad. Desperate to feed their families, they began to work in foreign
countries but found themselves in vulnerable situations.
Diplomatic Efforts and Challenges
India has a significant number of migrant workers in the Gulf countries, many of whom are
employed in domestic or construction years. Over the years, the Indian government has taken
strong steps to support these workers through bilateral agreements and established support
centers in these countries. However, tragedies like Kavitha’s show that more needs to be done
to address the extremism of Indians abroad.
Mediation efforts to rescue workers like Kavita involved many difficult negotiations with local
authorities. In recent years, several such cases of abuses against migrant workers in the Gulf
countries have resulted in coordinated efforts by the Indian Government to ensure their safe
return. The process, however, is time-consuming and challenging due to differing legal
frameworks and the power dynamics created by the Kafala system.
Conclusion
Kavitha’s plight highlights migrant worker vulnerability in Kuwait, emphasizing the need for
reforms in the Kafala system and protection of the workers
