Lok Sabha Question No. 161 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-02
Subject: Skilled Workers in Foreign Countries
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: T.N. Prathapan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-161

## ANSWERED ON- 02/02/2024

## SKILLED WORKERS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

## 161.  SHRI T.N. PRATHAPAN

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

- (a)  whether the Government has the details of Indian skilled/unskilled workers and professional workers working abroad;
- (b) If so, the details thereof, country-wise;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that many labourers and workers working abroad have to live in unhealthy living conditions and are often denied basic needs; and
- (d) if so, the details of initiatives taken by the Government in this regard?

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

## (SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN)

- (a & b) Ministry maintains the data in respect of Indian workers, holding Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports, proceeding for overseas employment   through   e-Migrate   portal   to   any   of   the   ECR   category countries. The country-wise data of Emigration Clearances (ECs) granted

to such workers during the last 3 years is enclosed as Annexure - I.

(c & d) Government of India has robust mechanism to monitor working conditions   and   redress   grievances   of   Indian   workers   abroad.   Our Missions and Posts abroad remain vigilant all the time and actively monitor and follow-up the grievance(s) received from the Indian nationals in foreign countries. The grievances are received and responded through various channels i.e. Emergency telephone number, Walk-ins, e-Mails, Social Media, 24x7 Multilingual Helpline and Open Houses, etc. To enable aggrieved   Indian   national   to   register   online   his/her   grievances,   the Government  has   established   Portals   such   as   MADAD   and   e-Migrate. Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendras (PBSK) have been set up in Dubai (UAE),   Riyadh,   Jeddah   (Kindom   of   Saudi   Arabia)   and   Kuala   Lumpur (Malaysia) to provide guidance and counselling to Indian workers abroad

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

The Missions/Posts utilize the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) from time to time to provide financial and legal assistance to Indian national in distress abroad on a 'means tested basis'. Under ICWF, the assistance includes Boarding and Lodging, Air Passage to India, Legal Assistance, Emergency Medical Care, Transportation of Mortal Remains to India, and Payment of Small Fines and Penalties. Since the launch of ICWF,   total  3,42,543  Indian   nationals   have   been   assisted   by   Indian Missions/Posts till September 2023.

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Annexure - I Country-wise data of Emigration Clearances granted through e-Migrate portal to the Indian migrant workers during last 3 years:

| Country     |   2021 |   2022 |   2023 |
|-------------|--------|--------|--------|
| KSA         |  32845 | 178630 | 200713 |
| UAE         |  10844 |  33233 |  71687 |
| Kuwait      |  10158 |  71432 |  48212 |
| Qatar       |  49579 |  30871 |  30683 |
| Oman        |  19452 |  31994 |  21336 |
| Malaysia    |     36 |  12836 |  15319 |
| Bahrain     |   6382 |  10232 |   7376 |
| Jordan      |   2386 |   2487 |   1187 |
| Iraq        |    935 |   1430 |   1599 |
| Lebanon     |     54 |    282 |    200 |
| Thailand    |      1 |      3 |      4 |
| Indonesia   |      0 |      3 |      0 |
| South Sudan |      1 |      1 |      0 |
| Total       | 132673 | 373434 | 398316 |

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