Lok Sabha Question No. 1526 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Nurses Working Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: T.G. VENKATESH BABU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1526 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## NURSES WORKING ABROAD

1526. SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G.:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the estimated number of nurses working abroad, countrywise;
- (b) whether the Government is aware of the increasing cases of frauds by private recruitment  agencies recruiting  nurses from India to abroad;
- (c) if   so,   the   details   thereof   and   the   number   of   such   cases reported during the last three years;
- (d) whether the Government has any proposal to ban private agencies from hiring nurses for overseas jobs; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken to protect the interests of nurses in foreign countries?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) The   Government   does   not   maintain   data   about   Indian Nurses working in different countries of the world. However, with effect   from   31 st   May, 2015, with a view to protect & ensure welfare of Indian nurses, 'Nurses' as a category were brought under the purview of Emigration Check Required (ECR) category when they travel to 18 notified ECR countries for employment. The country-wise details since May 2015 of nurses who travelled after taking Emigration Clearances is as under:-

| Name of Countries    | 2015   | 2016   |   2017 (19.12.17) |
|----------------------|--------|--------|-------------------|
| Bahrain              | -      | -      |                55 |
| Jordan               | -      | -      |                60 |
| Kuwait               | -      | 7      |               118 |
| Oman                 | 16     | 31     |               112 |
| Qatar                | 1      | 2      |               350 |
| Saudi Arabia         | -      | 4556   |              3261 |
| United Arab Emirates | 180    | 262    |                96 |
| Total                | 197    | 4858   |              4052 |

(b) Reports of some fraudulent practice by private recruitment agents prior to 2015, had prompted the Government to take the following steps to protect the nurses: (i) Only six State Government Recruiting Agencies (RAs) viz NORKA   Roots   of   Kerala,   Overseas   Development   and Employment   Promotion   Consultants   (ODEPC)   of   Kerala, Overseas   Manpower   Corporation   Ltd.   (OMCL)   of   Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh Financial Corporation (UPFC) of Uttar Pradesh,   Overseas   Manpower   Company   Andhra   Pradesh Limited   (OMCAP)   of   Andhra   Pradesh   and   Telangana Overseas   Manpower   Company   Limited   (TOMCOM)   of Telangana  were   permitted   to   recruit   nurses.   Thereafter under stringent 'Terms & Conditions' of recruiting nurses a few private RAs have been permitted to recruit nurses for ECR countries under the 'Country Specific Order' (ii) All   nurses   were   brought   under   ECR   category,   thereby necessitating their having to take emigration clearances before proceeding for deployment in 18 ECR countries. (iii)  Additional   Terms   &   Conditions   to   be   adhered   to   by   the Foreign Employers and RAs were prescribed to be accepted before   issuance   of   'Country   Specific   Order'   to   recruit nurses. (c) After   May   2015   there   are   no   reported   cases   of   nurses having been defrauded. No data of cases prior to May 2015 are available with Government. (d) No. (e) Does not arise in view of (d) above; the steps taken by the Government to protect the interests of nurses are already given in part (b) above

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