Lok Sabha Question No. 2268 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-29
Subject: Connectivity between GCC countries
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: M. K. Raghavan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2268

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2022

## CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN GCC COUNTRIES

## 2268. SHRI  M.K. RAGHAVAN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether   the   Government   has   taken   note   of   the   lack/less connectivity between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Kozhikode,   if   so,   the   details   regarding   the   interventions   by   the Government to increase connectivity to GCC countries;
- (b) whether the Government has any data regarding the number of persons who have lost their jobs in GCC countries due to COVID-19 pandemic, if so, the details regarding the same;
- (c) whether any interventions are being made by the Government to provide financial support to returnees from GCC countries who have lost their jobs as a result of layoffs in various countries, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether   the   Government   has   noticed   an   increase   in   human trafficking to GCC countries, if so, the details of steps being taken to ensure that Indian migrants to GCC countries are protected?

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

## [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) Kozhikode   is   well-connected   with   each   of   the   Gulf   Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The total number of flights between Kozhikode (Calicut) airport and Gulf countries per week for Summer 2022 are as follows:

|   UAE (Abu Dhabi) |   UAE (Dubai) |   UAE (Sharjah) |   UAE (Ras al Khaimah) |   Saudi Arabia |   Qatar |   Kuwait |   Oman |   Bahrain |
|-------------------|---------------|-----------------|------------------------|----------------|---------|----------|--------|-----------|
|                18 |            37 |              21 |                      2 |             49 |      22 |        5 |     14 |        13 |

(b) & (c) As   per   Government's   estimates,   about   7,16,662   workers returned from the six Gulf countries under the Vande Bharat Mission. Their country-wise breakup is given below:

|   S.No. | Name of ECR Countries   | Estimated No. of Indian workers   |
|---------|-------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|       1 | United Arab Emirates    | 3,30,058                          |
|       2 | Saudi Arabia            | 1,37,900                          |
|       3 | Kuwait                  | 97,802                            |
|       4 | Oman                    | 72,259                            |

| 5.   | Qatar   | 51,190   |
|------|---------|----------|
| 6.   | Bahrain | 27,453   |
|      | TOTAL   | 7,16,662 |

During the Covid-19 pandemic, our Missions and Posts facilitated the return of Indian workers stranded abroad on the Vande Bharat Mission. They also proactively extended support to Indians both directly using the Indian   Community   Welfare   Fund   and   by   coordinating   with   community associations.   This   included   expenses   on   a   needs   basis   pertaining   to boarding and lodging, air passages, emergency medical care, etc.

It was the Government's priority to ensure during the pandemic that its   impact   on   Indian   workers   in   terms   of   loss   of   employment   was mitigated. To that end, the Ministry and all our Missions in the Gulf were continuously engaged at highest political level with the Governments of the   Gulf   nations   to   maintain   the   workers,   ensure   their   welfare   and facilitate financial payments due to them.   All countries in the Gulf have responded favourably to these efforts by the Government as a result of which,   there   has   been   a   steady   flow   of   returnees   back   to   the   Gulf countries.

Indian   Missions/Posts   are   also   continuing   to   pursue   with   the Governments in the Gulf countries   the   return   of   Indian   workers,   the realization   of   payments   due   to   them,   new   recruitment   in   the   light   of economic recovery, and other welfare measures as appropriate.

The   Government   of   India   launched   the   Skilled   Workers   Arrival Database for Employment Support (SWADES) portal as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and the MEA, aimed to create a database of returning citizens based on their skill sets and experience, who lost their jobs and were stuck overseas and have returned back to India through the VBM.

As per information received from the Ministry of Skill Development and   Entrepreneurship   (MSDE),   all   the   stakeholders   have   been   given access to the SWADES candidate database with uploading of details on the Aatmanirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping (ASEEM) portal for employer   connect   under   different   sectors.   34118   candidates   have registered for SWADES skill card (as on June 2022).

As the pandemic has receded in recent months, this focus has shifted to pressing for return of workers and families on an expeditious basis. While a large number of Indian workers particularly in the Gulf returned to India due to COVID-19, the economic recovery in that region and their increasing openness to travel from India has now seen a return by many of them. As per the eMigrate portal total 4,16,024 Emigration Clearance(EC) were issued for ECR countries during the period 1 January 2020 to 30 June 2022.

(d) The MEA receives complaints against illegal recruitment agents from time   to   time   through   established   mechanism.   Such   complaints   are forwarded to relevant law enforcement agencies of State Governments concerned to take necessary actions as per the provision of Emigration

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Act. T o prevent trafficking and illegal migration, the Labour and Manpower Cooperation MOUs/Agreements are in place with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates) and Jordan that provide the overarching framework for   cooperation   on   labour   and   manpower   related   issues.   Further,   to safeguard the specific interest of domestic workers in GCC Countries, who are often the most vulnerable category; Ministry has signed separate MOUs/Agreements on domestic workers with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

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