Lok Sabha Question No. 3342 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-08
Subject: Indian Workers Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Raja Ram Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 3342

ANSWERED ON - 08/08/2025

INDIAN WORKERS ABROAD

3342.  SHRI RAJA RAM SINGH

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government maintains country-wise data of Indian workers employed abroad, along with details of their employment status-contractual, permanent, or undocumented, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the list of recruitment agencies or companies involved in sending Indian workers to foreign countries and the regulatory mechanisms governing their operations;
- (c)   whether   the   Ministry   is   aware   of   widespread   reports   of underpayment, wage theft, and poor working conditions faced by Indian migrant workers, particularly in Gulf countries and Southeast Asia, if so, the remedial actions taken in this regard;

(d) the number of complaints or representations received by Indian missions regarding labour rights violations during the last five years; and

(e) whether the Government plans to strengthen monitoring, legal aid, and repatriation support for such workers, and introduce stricter oversight of recruitment practices to prevent exploitation, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) Ministry maintains data in respect of Indian workers, holding Emigration   Check   Required   (ECR)   passports,   proceeding   for employment overseas through e-Migrate portal to any of the 18 notified   ECR   category   countries.   In   the   last   five   years   from   01 January 2020 to 30 June 2025, a total number of 16,06,964 Indian workers have been issued Emigration Clearances (ECs). Countrywise data on the number of ECs granted in the last five years is given in Annexure - A.

(b) The process of emigration of Indian workers having Emigration Clearance Required (ECR) category passports and proceeding for overseas employment to any of the 18 ECR countries, is regulated under   the   Emigration   Act,   1983,   which   is   administered   by   the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) through Overseas Employment (OE) and Protector General of Emigrants (PGE) Division. As per this Act, no persons/agencies can function as recruiting agent/agency without   obtaining   a   valid   registration   certificate   issued   by   the registering authority.  The details of registered Recruitment Agents (RAs) are available on the e-Migrate portal (link: https://emigrate.gov.in/#/emigrate ).

The Ministry takes appropriate measures and issues guidelines from time to time to regulate the registered RAs in the country. As per Section   10   of   the   Emigration   Act,   1983,   no   person/agency   can function   as   Recruiting   Agent   (RA)   without   a   valid   Registration Certificate (RC) issued by the Registering Authority i.e. Protector General of Emigrants (PGE). The process of registration of RA is done through a web-based application i.e. eMigrate portal which brings all the stakeholders, including the RAs, Foreign Employers

(FEs)   and   the   prospective   emigrants   on   a   common   platform. Whenever, any complaint against a registered RA is received, a Show Cause Notice (SCN) is issued to the concerned RA, under Section 14 of the Emigration Act, 1983, directing them to resolve the complaint. In case, the RA fails to respond to the SCN or reply is not found to be satisfactory, their RC can be cancelled or suspended for 30 days as per Section 14(2) of the Emigration Act, 1983. The order of suspension can be revoked by the Competent Authority only after consultation with all the stakeholders and after ensuring that the complaint   has   been   fully   resolved   to   the   satisfaction   of   the complainant. Ministry also publishes a list of unregistered RAs on the eMigrate portal. Advisories/alerts on fraudulent/illegal recruiting agencies are also hosted on this portal. Ministry also takes action against illegal migration through unregistered/illegal RAs with the support of concerned State Governments.

(c)   &   (d)     The   Indian   Missions   abroad   receive   complaints   from workers, particularly domestic sector workers, on account of poor working conditions, non-payment or delay in payment of salaries and denial of other benefits such as medical facilities, refusal of leave or

denial of exit/re-entry permits for visits to India, denial of final exit visas   to   the   workers   to   return   to   India   after   completion   of   the contract,   maltreatment   by   the   employers   etc.   Incidents   of confinement, physical abuse, abandoning of housemaids by their sponsors have also been reported. Most of the complaints pertain to workers, who do not have proper employment contracts and have migrated illegally, in violation of Government norms for recruitment of ECR workers from India.

It   has   also   come   to   the   notice   of   the   Government   instances   of dubious firms involved in fake recruitment job offers having lured Indian nationals mostly through social media channels to South-East Asian countries and made them to carry out cyber crime and other fraudulent activities from scam centres operating in these countries. The exact number of Indian nationals stuck in these countries is not known as Indian nationals reach these scam centres on their own volition   through   fraudulent/   unscrupulous   recruitment   agents/ agencies and through illegal channels.

(e) The Government of India accords highest priority to the safety, protection and wellbeing of Indian workers abroad including those in

the   Gulf   countries   and   South-East   Asia.   There   are   established channels to enable the Indian workers to reach out to the Embassy/ Consulate in case they need any assistance. They can contact the Embassy/   Consulate   through   walk-in,   email,   multilingual   24x7 emergency numbers, Whatsapp number, grievance redressal portal like MADAD/ CPGRAMS/ eMigrate, and social media, etc.  There are dedicated   Labour   Wings   for   handling   such   matters.   Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra has been set up in key locations such as New Delhi, Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Kuala Lumpur to provide guidance and counselling to the Indian workers.

On receipt of complaints of exploitation from Indian workers, the Missions/ Posts abroad, including in the Gulf and South-East Asian countries, promptly take action including reaching out to the foreign employers/ sponsors/ local Government authorities as well as the Recruiting Agents for redressal of the complaint.

Further, the Government has taken several initiatives such as the Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojna (PBBY) and Pre-Departure Orientation & Training (PDOT) in ensuring that Indian migrant workers undertake safe   migration,   have   decent   working   and   living   conditions   in

destination countries, are aware of their rights and have access to various welfare schemes of the Government.

Indian Missions/Posts abroad regularly organize Open Houses and Consular   Camps   in   remote   areas   to   get   feedback   from   Indian workers residing in such areas and to address their grievances, if any. On receipt of complaint from or on behalf of the emigrant, the same is taken up pro-actively with concerned Foreign Employer (FE) and  the   work   place   of   the   aggrieved   worker   is   also   visited,   if required. The complaints pertaining to employment issues are also taken   up   with   the   local   labour   department   and   other   relevant authorities of the host country for prompt redressal.

Further, as additional safeguard for protection and safety of the Female   workers,   Government   has   authorized   only   State   run Recruiting Agencies (RAs) to recruit Indian female domestic sector workers holding ECR category passports for overseas employment in Gulf and other notified ECR Countries through the e-Migrate Portal. Moreover, there is a minimum age criteria of 30 years for female workers holding ECR category passport for overseas employment to protect them against exploitation.

The Embassy/Consulate also utilizes the Indian Community Welfare Fund   (ICWF)   from   time   to   time   to   provide   financial   and   legal assistance to Indian nationals in distress on a means-tested basis. Under ICWF, the major assistance includes Boarding & Lodging, Air Passage   to   India,   Legal   Assistance,   Emergency   Medical   Care, Transportation of Mortal Remains to India, and Payment of Small Fines and Penalties.

## Annexure - A

| Total no of ECs granted during the last five years (01.01.2020 to 30.06.25), year-wise & country-wise   | Total no of ECs granted during the last five years (01.01.2020 to 30.06.25), year-wise & country-wise   | Total no of ECs granted during the last five years (01.01.2020 to 30.06.25), year-wise & country-wise   | Total no of ECs granted during the last five years (01.01.2020 to 30.06.25), year-wise & country-wise   | Total no of ECs granted during the last five years (01.01.2020 to 30.06.25), year-wise & country-wise   | Total no of ECs granted during the last five years (01.01.2020 to 30.06.25), year-wise & country-wise   | Total no of ECs granted during the last five years (01.01.2020 to 30.06.25), year-wise & country-wise   | Total no of ECs granted during the last five years (01.01.2020 to 30.06.25), year-wise & country-wise   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Country                                                                                                 | 2020                                                                                                    | 2021                                                                                                    | 2022                                                                                                    | 2023                                                                                                    | 2024                                                                                                    | 2025                                                                                                    | Total                                                                                                   |
| BAHRAIN                                                                                                 | 4,175                                                                                                   | 6,383                                                                                                   | 10,232                                                                                                  | 7,376                                                                                                   | 8,607                                                                                                   | 3,634                                                                                                   | 40,407                                                                                                  |
| INDONESIA                                                                                               | 1                                                                                                       |                                                                                                         | 3                                                                                                       |                                                                                                         | 3                                                                                                       | 7                                                                                                       | 14                                                                                                      |
| IRAQ                                                                                                    | 759                                                                                                     | 935                                                                                                     | 1,430                                                                                                   | 1,599                                                                                                   | 2,761                                                                                                   | 791                                                                                                     | 8,275                                                                                                   |
| JORDAN                                                                                                  | 317                                                                                                     | 2,386                                                                                                   | 2,487                                                                                                   | 1,187                                                                                                   | 3,137                                                                                                   | 1,024                                                                                                   | 10,538                                                                                                  |
| KUWAIT                                                                                                  | 8,107                                                                                                   | 10,158                                                                                                  | 71,432                                                                                                  | 48,212                                                                                                  | 39,862                                                                                                  | 24,188                                                                                                  | 201,959                                                                                                 |

| LEBANON      | 21     | 54     | 282     | 200     | 130     | 6      | 693     |
|--------------|--------|--------|---------|---------|---------|--------|---------|
| MALAYSIA     | 2,435  | 36     | 12,836  | 15,319  | 5,606   | 1,820  | 38,052  |
| OMAN         | 7,206  | 19,453 | 31,994  | 21,336  | 24,258  | 12,593 | 116,840 |
| QATAR        | 8,907  | 49,579 | 30,871  | 30,683  | 23,785  | 9,676  | 153,501 |
| SAUDI ARABIA | 44,316 | 32,845 | 178,622 | 200,713 | 167,598 | 71,175 | 695,269 |
| SOUTH SUDAN  |        | 1      | 1       |         |         | 19     | 21      |
| SUDAN        |        |        |         |         | 2       |        | 2       |

| THAILAND             | 10     | 1       | 3       | 4       | 10      |         | 28        |
|----------------------|--------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|-----------|
| UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | 17,891 | 10,844  | 33,233  | 71,688  | 111,308 | 96,401  | 341,365   |
| Total                | 94,145 | 132,675 | 373,426 | 398,317 | 387,067 | 221,334 | 1,606,964 |

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