Lok Sabha Question No. 1421 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-10
Subject: Agreement with Gulf Cooperation Council
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1421 ANSWERED ON 10/02/2023

## AGREEMENT WITH GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL

## 1421.  SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE SHRI MANOJ KOTAK

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

(a)   whether   the   Government   has   signed   Labour   and   Manpower   Cooperation Agreements   with   the   Gulf   Cooperation   Council   (GCC)   countries   which   provide framework   for   cooperation   on   labour   and   manpower   issues   and   if   so,   the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has established any institutional framework to promote safe and legal migration;

(c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the details of the existing schemes to safeguard the interests of the Indian migrant workers?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN)

(a  to   d)  To   facilitate   the   employment   of   Indian   workers  abroad,   and   to   safeguard   their interests, the Ministry has entered into Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) and  Labour Manpower Agreements (LMAs) with the governments of Gulf Cooperation Council(GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates). Further, to safeguard the specific interest of domestic workers in GCC Countries, agreements on Labor Cooperation for Domestic Sector have been signed with Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait.

The Government has established a robust institutional framework to promote safe and legal migration while ensuring welfare and safety and preventing exploitation of Indian workers working abroad. Government has been making constant efforts to educate migrant youths about   the   perils   of   illegal   recruitment   channels.   Following   the   implementation   of   the e-Migrate system in 2015, and with the welfare of aspiring emigrant youths in mind, ECR emigrants are recommended to seek overseas employment through legal channels, through the e-Migrate portal. The Ministry is also working with several state governments and other stakeholders to disseminate information about the Indian diaspora and foreign jobs and to spread awareness about safe and legal migration through State Outreach Programmes. The state governments were requested to launch awareness campaigns for prospective emigrants in vernacular medium and to pro-actively check the growth of illegal agents and to take strict actions against them. A campaign titled 'Surakshit Jaaye Prasikshit Jaaye' (Go Safe, Go

Trained) was launched in 2018 with an aim to raise awareness and for promoting safe and legal migration as well as overseas career prospects.

Pre Departure Orientation Training (PDOT) is another initiative in the same direction. PDOT programmes are aimed at enhancing soft skills of Indian migrant workers largely going to the Gulf region and Malaysia, in terms of culture, language, tradition and local  rules   and regulations of the destination country, to sensitize migrant workers about pathways to safe and legal migration and various government programmes for their welfare and protection.

MADAD portal, Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF), Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana, Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendras, Helplines at Indian Missions and Posts, Shelter Homes etc. are some other important mechanisms to expeditiously assist Indian workers abroad. Missions in Gulf Countries also have dedicated labour wings which ensure prompt redressal of labour grievances. As and when Missions / Posts receive any labour grievance, they take it up with relevant authorities in the host government for appropriate intervention to its logical conclusion.

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