Lok Sabha Question No. 3181 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Indian Labour Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: GOPAL CHINAYYA SHETTY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3181

TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2018

## INDIAN LABOUR ABROAD

- †3181. SHRI GOPAL SHETTY:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the names of the countries where Indian citizens are working as labourers;
- (b) the number of such Indian citizens;
- (c) whether all such labourers are working as per Government rules or the said labourers are being made to work illegally and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to establish a labourer's cell under the Ministry; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)&(b)     This   Ministry   maintains   data   relating   to   emigration   of   workers,   i.e. Emigration   Check   Required   (ECR)   category   passport   holders   proceeding   for overseas employment to the 18 notified ECR countries; namely Afghanistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Thailand, UAE and Yemen. Most of the Missions in these countries have reported that in addition to large number of Indian workers employed as skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers engaged in industrial, construction, sanitation, domestic and agricultural sectors, there are also Indians working as professionals, viz. bankers, doctors, engineers, Chartered Accountants, lawyers etc. and businessmen in these countries. The number of ECR passport holding Indian workers, who proceeded after obtaining Emigration Clearance (EC) for overseas employment in ECR countries, during the last three years is annexed.

(c) & (d) Indian   workers   with   ECR   passport   who   emigrate   after   obtaining Emigration Clearances (EC) from any of the ten Protector of Emigrants (PoE) offices in the country through the online emigration clearance system (e-migrate portal) of the Ministry of External Affairs, can work legally in the destination country and are covered under their labour laws and provided protection by the Protector   General   of   Emigrants   of   the   Ministry   of   External   Affairs   and   the established local laws/rules of the respective countries. However, action is taken by the Governments at destination countries against those who do not emigrate as per the Government rules and seek employment in violation of the local laws/rules. There is no proposal of establishing any labour cell in the Ministry, as the ten Protector of Emigrants (PoE) offices in India, under the supervision of Protector General of India, are already mandated under the Emigration Act 1983, to ensure protection and welfare of overseas Indian workers.

(e)

Does not arise.

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ANNEXURE-I EMIGRATION CLEARANCE GRANTED TO ECR PASSPORT HOLDER INDIAN

WORKERS, DESTINATION WISE, DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS

| Sl. No.   | Name of Countries   |   2015 |   2016 |   2017 |
|-----------|---------------------|--------|--------|--------|
| 1         | Afghanistan         |     70 |      0 |      0 |
| 2         | Bahrain             |  15619 |  11964 |  11516 |
| 3         | Indonesia           |     06 |     01 |     10 |
| 4         | Iraq                |     01 |      0 |      0 |
| 5         | Jordan              |   2046 |   2742 |   2341 |
| 6         | Kuwait              |  66543 |  72384 |  56380 |
| 7         | Lebanon             |    341 |    316 |    110 |
| 8         | Libya               |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| 9         | Malaysia            |  20895 |  10604 |  14002 |
| 10        | Oman                |  85028 |  63236 |  53332 |
| 11        | Qatar               |  59340 |  30619 |  24759 |
| 12        | S. Arabia           | 306642 | 165355 |  78611 |
| 13        | Sudan               |     29 |      0 |      1 |
| 14        | South Sudan         |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| 15        | Syria               |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| 16        | Thailand            |     10 |     01 |      0 |
| 17        | U. A. E.            | 225512 | 163716 | 149962 |
| 18        | Yemen               |     01 |      0 |      0 |
| TOTAL     | TOTAL               | 782083 | 520938 | 391024 |

*****

Source: e-Migrate portal.