Shashi Tharoor Urges Bill for Indian Migrant Workers After Kuwait Fire Tragedy

In response to the Kuwait fire that killed at least 49 people, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor urged the government to draft a bill ensuring decent working conditions and security for Indian migrant workers. Tharoor highlighted the ongoing neglect of such issues, urging immediate governmental action to address worker rights.

In the aftermath of a tragic fire in Kuwait that claimed the lives of at least 49 individuals and injured more than 50 others, predominantly Indian migrant workers, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has strongly urged the Indian government to draft a comprehensive bill guaranteeing decent conditions and security for these workers.

The fire, which engulfed a multi-storey building early on Wednesday, has underscored the severe hardships faced by Indian migrant workers abroad. Tharoor emphasized that the majority of deaths occurred due to smoke inhalation while residents were asleep.

Tharoor recalled his earlier efforts more than five years ago as chair of the parliamentary standing committee on External Affairs, wherein he had called for an updated Emigration Bill. Expressing shock over the lack of progress, he urged immediate action, stressing the need for contractual assurances for Indian workers going abroad. Tharoor also extended his condolences to the victims' families, calling the incident a poignant reminder of the workers’ plight.