Thaindian News

Dubai, Mar. 17 (ANI): The Indian Embassy here has ended its contract with Empost for passport and visa services, and has handed over the same to a new Dubai-based company, BLS International. It said Indian passport and visa service charges in the UAE would be reduced.

India’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, M.K.Lokesh, did not elaborate why the contract with Empost was not renewed. He said the location of the new designated centers would be announced before the new company starts offering the services on April 6.

According to a Gulf News report, Ambassador Lokesh promised that a website offering details of the new locations will be up and running in the first week of April.

BLS International offers similar services for Indian expatriates in Kuwait.

The missions were forced to out-source the job in 2009 as they were swamped earlier and could not manage the huge number of applications.

At one point the consulate alone was handling 200,000 passports and 63,000 visas every year.

Lokesh said the embassy would not attest any labour contract unless it complies with the minimum wages rules issued in Indian for workers outside the country.

He said the embassy would bring up the issue with the Ministry of Labour if violation to the rules were discovered.

The new wages range from Dh950 for cleaners and office boys to Dh 1, 400 for skilled workers. The minimum wage for maids set in 2008 as Dh 1,100 has not changed.

A new Indian Workers Resource Centre will be set up in Abu Dhabi in a week’s time. (ANI)