Muraleedharan said that the online portal for the recruitment of blue-collar workers requiring emigration clearance.

The UAE and India have interlinked their online labour platforms and also launched a joint skill harmonisation programme for the welfare of labour force, an Indian minister said in Abu Dhabi.

India's Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said that the Indian e-Migrate portal for the recruitment of blue-collar workers requiring emigration clearance (ECR category) and the online portal of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) are now interlinked.

"We have just concluded our decisions at the fifth Abu Dhabi Dialogue, where I led the Indian delegation. I am happy to share that India's footprints were clearly visible at the dialogue as India and the UAE launched two very important initiatives aimed at labour welfare - the interlinking of the labour platforms of the two countries and a joint skill harmonisation programme," Muraleedharan said in his community address held at the India Social and Culture Centre. The minister said the new framework of cooperation will ensure protection and welfare of workers.

"Integration of labour platforms will help strengthening joint overseeing of recruitment process, making it transparent and more effective. We will be able to curb malpractices like contract substitution and activities of some unscrupulous agents," Muraleedharan underlined. The skill harmonisation initiative will lead to scaling of skills in accordance with the requirements of the job market. As a start, there were 13 skill sets identified.

"The initiative will ensure that workers receive jobs in accordance with their skill set in the UAE and also get better remuneration. We have identified some 13 skills under construction and auto sector. Companies hiring the workers will be incentivised in the form of reduced work permit fee. We are working with the UAE to see if this could be extended to highly skilled areas including new and emerging technologies."

Earlier, Muraleedharan held talks with Nasser bin Thani Juma Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, and was assured full cooperation and assistance.

"I had a very bright discussion with the minister. He deeply appreciated the role played by the Indian community in the development of the UAE and has assured cooperation in addressing issues of concern to us and in forging strong cooperation in areas related to labour welfare."

Muraleedharan spoke at a community reception organised on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at the Indian Association Sharjah. The event, titled 'Gandhi@150 Celebrating 150 Years of Celebrating the Mahatma', took place on Wednesday. Also present at the event were Consul-General of India to Dubai Vipul, Indian Association of Sharjah president EP Johnson, and Indian People Forum presidents Bhupendra Kumar and Vijayan Nair, and social worker Girish Pant.

(With inputs from Dhanusha Gokulan)