Lok Sabha Question No. 2501 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Indians Working Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2501

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2018

## INDIANS WORKING ABROAD

†2501.      SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of Indian citizens  working abroad as mere labourers along with the names of countries where they are working;
- (b) whether all such labourers are working as per the Government norms or they are being put to work illegally as well and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to set up a   labour cell under the Ministry; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) This Ministry maintains data relating to emigration of workers including labourers   holding   Emigration   Check   Required   (ECR)   passport,   proceeding   for overseas   employment   to   the   18   notified   ECR   countries;   namely   Afghanistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Thailand, UAE and Yemen. The country-wise number of Emigration Clearances issued to Indian workers traveling overseas as labourers for the last three years is annexed.

(b) Indian ECR passport holding workers are recruited for a variety of job roles such as Mason, labourers, carpenter, helper, electrician etc. Due to economic slowdown in Gulf countries in recent years, some companies have resorted either to transfer/re-deploy their manpower to other companies or send them back to India. Sometimes such redeployment results in change of job role which is not illegal, as the same is accepted by the worker. The information relating to those workers who travel overseas for employment illegally are not maintained by the Government.

(c) & (d) The ten  Protector   of   Emigrants   (PoE)   offices   in   India,   under   the supervision of Protector General of Emigrants are mandated to ensure protection and welfare of overseas Indian workers, who travel legally for jobs abroad in 18 ECR countries.

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Emigration Clearance granted to ECR passport holding Indian workers as labourers, for overseas employment to ECR countries during the last three years and current year (up to 30-6-2018)

| S. No.   | Name to Country      |   2015 |   2016 |   2017 |   2018 (up to 30/6/2018) |
|----------|----------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------------------------|
| 1.       | Bahrain              |     71 |    938 |   1615 |                      308 |
| 2.       | Jordan               |     63 |    468 |    642 |                      171 |
| 3.       | Kuwait               |   1098 |  13756 |  10830 |                     5399 |
| 4.       | Lebanon              |     89 |    276 |     95 |                       43 |
| 5.       | Qatar                |   1271 |   2703 |   1870 |                     2064 |
| 6.       | Saudi Arabia         |  14360 |  65046 |  35130 |                    18267 |
| 7.       | United Arab Emirates |    215 |   9217 |  10684 |                     3434 |
|          | TOTAL                |  17167 |  92404 |  60866 |                    29686 |

Source: e-Migrate.

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