India and Denmark sign MoU on Labour Mobility Partnership

India and Denmark signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Labour Mobility Partnership at Copenhagen, Denmark today. The MOU was signed by Shri. Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs and Ms. Birther Ronn Hornbech, Danish Minister of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs.

This is the first MOU on Labour Mobility Partnership with any European Nation. It will facilitate promotion of orderly migration of workers from India to meet the growing demand for skilled and trained workers in the Danish economy and prevent illegal/irregular migration.
The salient features of the MOU are:

(i) Cooperation between the two countries concerning the following branches of labour and employment for qualified workers within their national objectives and the relevant laws:
(a) Labour market expansion,
(b) Employment facilitation,
(c) Organized entry and orderly migration and
(d) Exchange of information and cooperation in introducing best practices for mutual benefit.
(ii) Equal treatment of workers with the nationals of the receiving state.
(iii) Undertaking mutually beneficial studies for recruitment and identifying emerging sectors in Danish economy that require qualified workers.
(iv) Promoting direct contact between the employers in Denmark and the state. managed or private recruiting agencies in India, without intermediaries to facilitate regular and orderly recruitment of workers.
(v) Protection and welfare of all categories of workers under the labour laws and other relevant laws of the host country.

The MOU also provides for constitution of a Joint Working Group of both the countries, with following mandate:

i. Study employment opportunities and suggest means for enhancing cooperation between states.
ii. To interpret the provisions of the memorandum of understanding and oversee its implementation.
iii. Create guidance material on rights and duties of employers and workers to minimize labour disputes and create information material about the existing system for dispute settlement
iv. Suggest amendments to the MOU for better achievements of its objectives.
v. Recommend measures to prevent misuse of visit visas by unscrupulous employers and recruiting agencies.
vi. Recommend initiatives to address any issues that might arise in the context of the MOU.