Dutch govt in ‘dialogue with India on human rights’

NEW DELHI: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Netherlands, Joel

Voodewind

of the Dutch parliament raised some questions for his PM

Mark Rutte

. On June 30, the Dutch minister of foreign affairs responded on behalf of the PM.

“The (Dutch) government is seeking a permanent dialogue with India on human rights and the role of non-governmental organizations, either bilaterally or in

EU

and multilateral relations. The Netherlands emphasizes the importance of respect for human rights for everyone, including religious and other minorities, for a well-functioning rule of law and the promotion of sustainable development,” the foreign minister said.

Asked of restrictive visa policy, the Dutch foreign minister said, “It is known to the government that organizations and individuals in some cases encounter problems when applying for a visa for India. It is not always clear what the underlying reasons are. In recent years the number of travel movements between India and the Netherlands has increased significantly – in both directions. Further facilitation of the flows of travelers is the subject of consultation between both countries. In contact with the government of India the Dutch government continuously emphasises the importance of civil society organizations for a well-functioning democratic state with the rule law. The government is engaged to see that employees of organizations operating in accordance with local legislation are enabled to conduct their societal activities. This has also been raised during the visit by Prime Minister Modi.”

Voodewind had raised a question about the “many violations of labour rights, including child labour and modern slavery, that occur in various production chains of Dutch companies that are active in India, including in the garment, seeds and natural stone sector”. In response, the foreign minister has said, “Various reports show a painful picture of the daily lives of many labourers in India: low wages, extreme long working hours and discrimination against female workers. Also child labour still continues to occur. On the positive side, the

Indian Parliament

has recently approved the ratification of two conventions on child labour of the

International Labour Organization

(ILO): Convention 138, concerning the Minimum Age for Employment, and Convention 182, aiming to prevent children under the age of 18 from engaging in work which is harmful or dangerous for their physical or mental health. Of course, the next step is a concrete implementation of the conventions. In addition to the government, also companies and civil society organizations can play a role. The [Dutch] government also supports organizations that are active in these areas.”