Lok Sabha Question No. 4042 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-24
Subject: Received Migrant Remittances
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: V. Kalanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4042

LOK SABHA

ANSWERED ON- 24/03/2023

## RECEIVED MIGRANT REMITTANCES

4042. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-

(a) the details of migrant remittances received by the country from the Indian migrants during the last three years;

(b) the details of compensation and residual payments of wages for the Indian migrant workers living abroad;

(c) whether the Government recognized the need for changing working and social conditions of Indian migrants staying in other nations with regards to the post-pandemic scenario; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and number of Indian migrants who lost their employment or remain Unemployed in the post-pandemic period?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN)

(a to d) As per the RBI data, India received inward remittances of  US$ 83,195 million (2019-20), US$ 80,185 (2020-21) and US$ 89,127 (2021-22) during the last three years. This included remittances received from Indian migrant workers.

As per data available on Madad and e-migrate portal, 26730 grievances, which includes matters related to compensation and residual payments, were registered by Indian citizens on Madad portal during the last three years. During this period 29640 grievances were resolved (this includes some of the grievances registered in previous years).

During the pandemic, it was the Government's priority to ensure that its impact on Indian workers in terms of loss of employment was mitigated. To that end, the Ministry and all our Missions especially in the Gulf region were continuously engaged with respective local Governments to maintain   the   workers,   ensure   their   welfare   and   facilitate   financial   payments   due   to   them. Government to Government interactions, including at the level of the Prime Minister, helped the Government of India to mitigate devastating impact of the pandemic on Indian migrant workers.

As soon as pandemic started to recede, Government's focus was shifted on pressing for return of workers and families on an expeditious basis. These issues have been taken up by the Government with its Gulf counterparts at the highest levels and various diplomatic endeavours led by the EAM and MoS(VM) to the GCC countries. Identified countries, including the GCC countries, were

pressed to establish air bubbles and ease visa and travel restrictions. As a result, there has been a steady flow of returnees back especially to the Gulf region.

Number of Emigration Clearances (EC) granted during last 3 years to Indian nationals holding ECR category passports traveling to 18 ECR countries as per following data from the eMigrate portal, reflects that growing number of migrants workers (including those who lost their jobs during the pandemic) are getting employment opportunities abroad post-pandemic :

| Year                |   2020 |   2021 |   2022 |
|---------------------|--------|--------|--------|
| Number of EC issued |  94145 | 132673 | 373434 |

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