Lok Sabha Question No. 425 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: Overseas Manpower Agencies
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.425

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2018

## OVERSEAS MANPOWER AGENCIES

- † 425.  SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Indian workers are being sent to foreign countries through overseas manpower agencies recognized by the Government;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of workers imprisoned in foreign jails along with the number of workers who died during the current year so far; and
- (d) the   steps   taken   by   the   Government   for   the   general   amnesty   of   illegally detained Indians in foreign countries?

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

(a) & (b) Yes, There are about 1300 Government recognized overseas manpower recruiting   agencies   in   the   country,   which   are   authorized   to   recruit   Indians   for overseas employment.

- (c) A statement showing the number of workers imprisoned in foreign jails along with the number of workers who have died, as informed by the Missions, is at Annexure.
- (d) Governments in the Gulf countries, where a large number of blue collared overseas   workers   are   employed   declare   amnesty   from   time   to   time   for   those detained in jails   for   violation   of   local   laws.  Indian   Embassy/Mission   extends   full support to all those stranded/jailed Indian nationals who are eligible to avail of the Amnesty offers. All   possible   assistance   including   through   the   Indian   Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) and community volunteers, are provided to them. In addition, our Missions, whenever informed about any Indian national detained in local jail, immediately take up the matter with the concerned local authorities for his/her release. Wherever necessary, legal assistance is arranged for the Indian nationals and, on case to case basis, fines are also paid by the Indian Mission from the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) to secure their release from jails. In cases where the released Indian emigrant is not in a position to arrange return ticket to India, the same is also arranged by the Indian Missions from ICWF. The safety, security and well-being of Indians abroad is among the top priorities for the Government of India.

*****

| Mission/Post           | the number of workers imprisoned in foreign jails (the number of workers who died)   |
|------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| EoI, Kabul             | 00 (3)                                                                               |
| EoI, Luanda            | 00 (3)                                                                               |
| EoI, Abu Dhabi         | 356 (306).                                                                           |
| CGI, Dubai             | 1250 (1308)                                                                          |
| Bangladesh             | 00 (07)                                                                              |
| EoI, Bahrain           | 121 (210)                                                                            |
| HCI, Brunei Darussalam | 02 (00)                                                                              |

## ANNEXURE

| EoI, Thimphu            | 56 (12).    |
|-------------------------|-------------|
| HCI, Ottawa             | 25 (00)     |
| EoI, Beijing            | 10 (03)     |
| EoI, Addis Ababa        | 00 (09)     |
| EoI, Budapest           | 02(00)      |
| CGI, Medan              | 03 (00).    |
| EoI, Tehran             | 24( 06)     |
| EoI, Baghdad            | 01 (06)     |
| EoI, Tel Aviv           | 19 (03)     |
| EoI,Amman               | 26 (00)     |
| EoI, Tokyo              | 06 (00)     |
| HCI, Nairobi            | 00 (01)     |
| EoI, Phnom Penh         | 03 (00).    |
| EoI, Kuwait             | 483 ( 595)  |
| EoI, Beirut             | 05 (26)     |
| EoI, Tripoli            | 00 (01)     |
| HCI, Colombo, Sri Lanka | 12 (07)     |
| HCI, Male               | 12(12)      |
| EoI, Mexico City        | 02(00)      |
| HCI, Maputo             | 02 ( 03)    |
| HCI, Abuja              | 01 (04)     |
| O/HCI, Lagos            | 00 (21)     |
| EoI, Kathmandu          | 886 ( 69)   |
| EoI, Muscat             | 59 (1)      |
| EoI, Riyadh             | 1617 (1271) |
| CGI, Jeddah             | 607 (1006)  |
| EoI, Juba               | 00 (01)     |
| HCI, Singapore          | 117 (14)    |
| HCI, Victoria (Mahe)    | 00 (04)     |
| EoI, Bangkok            | 43 (01)     |
| Turkmenistan.           | 00 (01)     |
| EoI, Ankara             | 00 (01)     |
| HCI, Pretoria           | 03 (00)     |
| CGI, Erbil,             | 01 (03)     |

*****

EoI-Embassy of India HCI- High Commission of India CGI- Consulate General of India