Lok Sabha Question No. 1134 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: Indians Stranded in Gulf Countries
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: KAMAL NATH, JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA, ANURAG SINGH THAKUR

1134.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1134 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2017

## INDIANS STRANDED IN GULF COUNTRIES

SHRI KAMAL NATH: SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA: SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a large number of Indian workers have been stranded in  Gulf  countries  and  are  also  languishing  in  various  foreign jails  for  violation  of  labour  contract  rules  and  other  petty complaints;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, country-wise;
- (c) whether Indian workers in Gulf countries have been allegedly cheated by companies in Gulf countries; and
- (d) if  so,  the  steps taken or proposed to be taken to break such nexus  at  State,  Central  and  Mission  levels  to  protect  the Indian  workers  with  number  of  prosecution  held  and  those undergoing?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) A statement showing the number of Indians who want to return form Gulf countries or are presently in jails in Gulf countries, as per the information available on MADAD portal, is at Annexure.
- (c) & (d) Complaints are received from Indian emigrants in notified  Emigration  Check  Required  (ECR)  countries,  from  time  to time,  regarding  violation  of  contractual  terms,  adverse  working conditions, wage related issues, employer related problems, medical and  insurance  related  problems  and  compensation/death  claims. Amidst the ongoing economic downturn in the Gulf countries due to

fall  in  crude  oil  prices,  there  are  some  reports  of  Indian  workers being asked to leave before completion of their existing contracts. Instances  of  unpaid  salaries  for  last  few  months  have  also  been reported.

Immediately  on  receipt  of  such  complaints,  the  same  are addressed by Indian Missions by taking them up with the concerned foreign  authorities.  In  addition,  the  Government  has  taken  several steps and initiatives to safeguard the interests of Indian nationals. Labour and Manpower Cooperation MoUs/Agreements are already in place with the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Jordan and Malaysia that provide the institutional framework to comprehensively  discuss  and  review  these  matters.  The  Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF), aimed at assisting Overseas Indian nationals abroad in times of distress on a means tested basis in the most  deserving  cases,  has  already  been  extended  to  all  Indian Missions  and  Posts  abroad.  The  Indian  Worker  Resource  Centre (IWRC) have also been setup that provide guidance and counseling on all matters pertaining to overseas Indian workers. IWRC, Dubai is already  functional  and  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  setup  in  Bahrain,  Kingdom  of  Saudi  Arabia, Kuwait,  Qatar,  UAE  and  Malaysia.  Missions  in  Gulf  countries  also conduct Open Houses on a regular basis where workers can convey their  grievances.  Some  Missions  have  established  24x7  helplines and Toll Free helplines.

The  MADAD  portal  enables  the  emigrant  workers  and  their family  members  to  register  their  consular  grievances  online  and track  their  redressal.  The  multi-lingual  24X7  Helpline  of  Overseas Workers  Resource  Centre  (OWRC)  in  Gurugram,  Haryana  provides information and guidance on all matters and problems pertaining to overseas employment of Indian nationals. Migrant Resource Centres have also been setup in Kochi, Hyderabad Gurugram, Chennai and Lucknow.

Grievances  related    to  Overseas  Employment  in  notified Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries, are logged in directly by emigrants/relatives/Overseas Workers Resource's Centre (OWRC) on eMigrate portal. These grievances are settled by respective jurisdictional  Protectors  of  Emigrants  (PoEs)  as  per  laid  down procedure.

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ANNEXURE

Inputs based on information available (on MADAD portal) with regard to the number of Indians  wanting  to  return  or  who  are  in  jail  in  Gulf  countries  are given below:-

| Countries            |   Repatriation requests received by concerned Mission/Post |   Indians in jails as 02.02.2017 |   Total |
|----------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|---------|
| Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |                                                       2007 |                              171 |    2178 |
| Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |                                                        325 |                              118 |     443 |
| Kuwait               |                                                        234 |                               71 |     305 |
| Muscat, Oman         |                                                         87 |                               35 |     122 |
| Abu Dhabi, UAE       |                                                         27 |                               32 |      59 |
| Duabi, UAE           |                                                        241 |                              117 |     358 |
| Bandar Abbas, Iran   |                                                          5 |                                2 |       7 |
| Tehran, Iran         |                                                          7 |                                4 |      11 |
| Zahidan, Iran        |                                                          2 |                                0 |       2 |
| Baghdad, Iraq        |                                                         12 |                                3 |      15 |
| Manama, Bahrain      |                                                         28 |                               19 |      47 |
| Qatar                |                                                         40 |                               22 |      62 |
| Total                |                                                       3015 |                              594 |    3609 |

Source: MADAD Portal