Lok Sabha Question No. 9 (STARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Problems Faced by Indians Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: YOGI ADITYANATH, ADVOCATE NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.9 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.11.2016

## PROBLEMS FACED BY INDIANS ABROAD

- † *9. SHRI YOGI ADITYA NATH: ADV. NARENDRA KESHAV SWAIKAR:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  maintaining  a  comprehensive database  of  Indians  working  in  different  countries  and  if  so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  a  large  number  of  Indian  immigrant  workers  are facing various types of problems in several countries especially Gulf countries and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps and initiatives taken by the Government to safeguard  the  interests  of  the  Indian  Nationals,  particularly workers in foreign countries?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI SUSHMA SWARAJ)

- (a) to (c)    A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF  THE LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  9  REGARDING  'PROBLEMS FACED BY INDIANS ABROAD' FOR ANSWER ON 16.11.2016

(a) Yes,  Madam,  the  data  of  the  Indian  workers,  holding  Emigration  Check Required (ECR) category passport, emigrating on employment purpose to any of the 18 notified ECR countries is captured in a digital system introduced by the Ministry since 2014, called e-Migrate system. e-Migrate provides the Ministry a comprehensive  and  online  database  of  emigrants,  Missions,  Recruiting  Agents, Foreign Employers, Insurance Agencies to make the whole emigration process faster, transparent  and  allows  online  authentication/verification  of    credentials  of  all  the stakeholders.

(b) Yes, Madam,  complaints  are received from Indian emigrants  in  ECR countries,  from  time  to  time,  regarding  violation  of  contractual  terms,  adverse working  conditions,  wage  related  issues,  employer  related  problems,  medical  & insurance related problems and compensation/death claims.

(c) Immediately  on  receipt  of  such  complaints,  the  same  are  addressed  by  the Indian Missions by taking them up with the concerned foreign authorities. Complaints  pertaining  to  employment  related  issues  are  taken  up  by  the  Indian Missions with the concerned foreign employer / Labour Department officials in that country  for  prompt  redressal.  In  addition,  the  Ministry  has  taken  several  steps  and initiatives  to  safeguard  the  interests  of  the  Indian  Nationals,  particularly  workers  in ECR countries which, inter-alia, are as under:-

I. Government  of  India  has  signed  MoUs  with  6  Gulf  countries,  Jordan  and Malaysia.  The broad principles covered in the MoUs include:

- (i) Declaration  of  mutual  intent  to  enhance  employment  opportunities  and  for bilateral cooperation in protection and welfare of workers.
- (ii) The host country to take measures for protection and welfare of the workers in organized sector.
- (iii)   Statement of the broad procedure that the foreign employer shall follow to recruit Indian workers.
- (iv) The recruitment and terms of employment to be in conformity with the laws of both the countries.
- (v) Constitution  of  Joint  Working  Groups  which  would  meet  regularly  to  find solutions to bilateral labour problems.

These  MOUs are renewed/ signed  afresh  from  time  to  time  and  during  this process any modifications are duly considered for inclusion.

II. The Government of India has set up Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) in  all  the  Indian  Missions/Consulates  abroad  to  meet  contingency  expenditure incurred  by  them  for  carrying  out  various  welfare  activities  for  overseas  Indian citizens who are in distress.

The Ministry has set up a 24X7 Helpline 'Overseas Workers Resource Centre (OWRC)'  in  Gurugram,  Haryana  which  provides  information  and  guidance  on  all matters and problems pertaining to overseas employment of Indian nationals.  Indian Workers  Resource  Centre  (IWRC)  set  up  in  Dubai  by  Embassy  of  India,  in  UAE, provides guidance and counseling on all matters pertaining to overseas Indian workers in  UAE.  Four  more  IWRCs  have  been  approved  in  Sharjah  (UAE),  Riyadh  and Jeddah (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). Shelter homes for distressed  Indian  nationals  have  been  set  up  in  Malaysia,  UAE,  Qatar,  Kuwait, Bahrain, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  These shelter homes provide free boarding and lodging to overseas Indians in distress pending their repatriation.

Government of India has also started ' Madad' portal for online lodging of the grievances of the emigrants, which are attended to on priority basis.

Several  Missions  are  conducting  Open  House  on  working  days,  to  provide direct access to workers to convey their grievances.   Some Missions have established 24x7 helplines and Toll Free helplines. They have also launched Mobile Applications to enable Indian workers in Gulf countries to contact respective Indian Embassies and Consulates when in distress or emergency situation.