LOK SABHA
The emigration clearance to the Indian citizens travelling to Iraq has been suspended in view of the deteriorating security situation in Iraq since 15 April, 2004. Since the security situation in Iraq continues to be grim, the above directive continues to be in place.
The Ministry was not aware of any developments that due to the ban on travel to Iraq, the services of Indian workers and drivers, who had gone to Kuwait, had been terminated by their Kuwaiti companies. The Embassy of India in Kuwait has issued press releases in the past advising all Indian nationals in Kuwait to desist from traveling to Iraq in view of the above ban. Further, all companies based in Kuwait which employ Indian nationals are required to get their labour contracts attested by the Embassy of India and give an undertaking that the Indian nationals to be employed by them will not be deployed in Iraq. This information was provided by Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs Shri E. Ahamed, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
AB/GK
(Release ID :37783)