Lok Sabha Question No. 2838 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-10
Subject: Assistance to Workers
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2838 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.07.2019

## ASSISTANCE TO WORKERS

## 2838. ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government had received a complaint that embassies do not provide adequate assistance or legal services when domestic workers in foreign countries, particularly in Arab countries, have to flee due to the harassment by their employers;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government intends to change labour laws to provide legal protection to domestic workers in cases of harassment of these women who are going as domestic workers to Gulf countries;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the   details   and   number   of   women   who   approached   the Embassy/Consulate   seeking   assistance   for   repatriation   in   Gulf countries, country-wise?

## ANSWER

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

## [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a)  & (b) The Government has not received any specific complaint that embassies do not provide adequate assistance or legal services when domestic workers in foreign countries, particularly in Arab countries, have to flee due to the harassment of their employers.

The well being and welfare of Indian nationals abroad is a foremost priority   for   Indian   Missions   and   Posts   abroad.   Our  Missions   and   Posts extend all possible assistance to distressed domestic workers, including counseling, legal assistance, financial assistance for food and lodging and completing necessary formalities for their repatriation to India.  Assistance is   also   provided   from   the   Indian   Community   Welfare   Fund   (ICWF)   in deserving cases on means tested basis.

(c) & (d) Domestic laws pertaining to labour in India, including women who are going as domestic workers to Gulf countries, do not extend to these countries.   However, Government has taken further measures to promote the protection and welfare of Emigration Check Required (ECR) passport   holding   Indian   women   going   abroad   as   domestic   workers,

including   restricting   their   recruitment   only   through   seven   State Government recruiting agencies w.e.f.   2   August,   2016;   mandatory   age restriction   of   minimum   30   years;   and   mandatory   requirements   of   their foreign   employers   registering   themselves   on   e-Migrate   system   and depositing a bank guarantee equivalent to US $ 2500.

(e) The country-wise  numbers of female workers who approached the Embassies/Consulates seeking assistance, including for repatriation, in Gulf countries are as under.

|   S. No. | Country              | 2016   |   2017 |   2018 |
|----------|----------------------|--------|--------|--------|
|        1 | Bahrain              | 84     |     80 |     78 |
|        2 | Qatar                | NA     |    397 |    495 |
|        3 | Saudi Arabia         | 301    |    550 |    235 |
|        4 | Oman                 | 153    |    232 |    328 |
|        5 | Kuwait               | 1206   |   1009 |    527 |
|        6 | United Arab Emirates | 196    |    319 |    376 |

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