Lok Sabha Question No. 1197 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-09
Subject: Persecution of Youth Working Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Narendra Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1197

## ANSWERED ON- 09/02/2024

## PERSECUTION OF YOUTH WORKING ABROAD

†1197. SHRI NARENDRA KUMAR

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

- (a) whether the youth working abroad have to face persecution due to the lack of their awareness of the rules and regulations of the country
- concerned and other reasons;
- (b) if  so, the details thereof alongwith the steps taken by the Indian embassies to provide them immediate assistance;
- (c) whether a large number of Indians are languishing in the jails of various countries including gulf countries;
- (d) if so, the details thereof, country-wise;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to enact a new law to provide adequate security to the Indian workers against their exploitation abroad; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN)

(a   to   f)   The   Indian   Missions   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.

Government   of   India   has   robust   mechanism   to   monitor   working conditions  and grievance  redressal of   all   Indian   workers   including youth working abroad. Our Missions and Posts abroad remain vigilant and actively monitor and follow each type of complaint received from 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 the aggrieved Indian national to online register 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 (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)   and   Kuala   Lumpur   (Malaysia)   to   provide   guidance   and counselling to Indian workers on all matters. There are dedicated Labour Wings in all Indian Missions in Gulf Countries.

Indian Missions/Posts 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 proactively 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.

Indian Missions/Posts abroad also utilize the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) to provide necessary assistance, on means tested basis to Indian citizens abroad and their dependents in times of distress.  An amount of INR 641 crores of ICWF fund has been utilized for assisting 3,46,373 Indians in distress in foreign countries.

Apart from above, prospective Indian emigrant workers are imparted a Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT) to sensitize them about culture, important labour laws and Dos & Don'ts about the destination country. They are also made aware of the welfare schemes like ICWF and Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) and grievance redressal mechanisms established in the Ministry and Missions / Posts abroad.

As per the information available with the Ministry, the number of Indian citizens in jails abroad is 9309 (Annexure A). Due to strong privacy laws prevailing in many countries, the local authorities do not share information on prisoners released. However, the issue of release and

repatriation of Indian nationals in foreign prisons is regularly pursued by   Indian   Missions   and   Posts   abroad   with   the   local   authorities concerned. Missions/Posts abroad also approach the law enforcement agencies to complete the investigation and judicial proceedings at the earliest possible. The Government also follows up this issue during consular and other consultations with other countries. In addition, the Government, through its Missions/Posts abroad and during high level visits, also takes up and pursues grant of  amnesty/commutation of sentences of Indian prisoners in foreign countries. Based on MoUs signed with the GCC countries, matters related to welfare   and   protection   of   workers   are   taken   up   during   regular meetings   of   Joint   Working   Groups   with   concerned   countries.   In addition, such matters are also regularly taken up with respective host governments through diplomatic channels.

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## Annexure- A

| Sl. No.              | Country        |   Number of Indian prisoners, including undertrials, in foreign prisons |
|----------------------|----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1                    | Afghanistan    |                                                                       8 |
| 2                    | Angola         |                                                                       1 |
| 3                    | Argentina      |                                                                       1 |
| 4                    | Armenia        |                                                                      16 |
| 5                    | Australia      |                                                                      66 |
| 6                    | Austria        |                                                                       9 |
| 7                    | Bahrain        |                                                                     310 |
| 8                    | Bangladesh     |                                                                      47 |
| 9                    | Belarus        |                                                                       2 |
| 10                   | Belgium        |                                                                      10 |
| 11                   |                |                                                                      57 |
| 12 Brunei Darussalam | Bhutan         |                                                                       1 |
| 13                   | Cambodia       |                                                                       2 |
| 14                   | Canada         |                                                                      23 |
| 15                   | Chile          |                                                                       1 |
| 16                   | China          |                                                                     177 |
| 17 Congo             | (Kinshasa)     |                                                                      11 |
| 18                   | Côte d'Ivoire  |                                                                       7 |
| 19                   | Cuba           |                                                                       1 |
| 20                   | Cyprus         |                                                                      28 |
| 21                   | Czech Republic |                                                                       1 |
| 22                   | Denmark        |                                                                       1 |
| 23                   | Egypt          |                                                                       1 |
| 24                   | Ethiopia       |                                                                       5 |
| 25                   | France         |                                                                      41 |
| 26                   | Georgia        |                                                                      26 |
| 27                   | Germany        |                                                                      77 |
| 28                   | Greece         |                                                                      23 |
| 29                   | Guatemala      |                                                                       1 |
| 30                   | Hungary        |                                                                      10 |
| 31                   | Indonesia      |                                                                      23 |
| 32                   | Iran           |                                                                      44 |
| 33                   | Israel         |                                                                       6 |
| 34                   | Italy          |                                                                     165 |
| 35                   | Jamaica        |                                                                       1 |
| 36                   | Japan          |                                                                       4 |

| 37                     | Jordan            | 35   |
|------------------------|-------------------|------|
| 38                     | Kenya             | 2    |
| 39                     | Kuwait            | 410  |
| 40                     | Kyrgyzstan        | 3    |
| 41                     | Laos              | 3    |
| 42                     | Lebanon           | 6    |
| 43                     | Liberia           | 1    |
| 44                     | Lithuania         | 2    |
| 45                     | Malawi            | 1    |
| 46                     | Malaysia          | 388  |
| 47                     | Maldives          | 11   |
| 48                     | Malta             | 1    |
| 49                     | Mauritius         | 9    |
| 50 Mexico              |                   | 1    |
| 51 Mozambique          |                   | 6    |
| 52                     | Myanmar           | 24   |
| 53                     |                   | 1242 |
| 54                     | Nepal New Zealand | 11   |
| 55                     | Nigeria           | 2    |
| 56                     | Oman              | 128  |
| 57                     | Pakistan          | 46   |
| 58                     | Philippines       | 32   |
| 59                     | Poland            | 7    |
| 60                     | Portugal          | 7    |
| 61 Qatar               |                   | 611  |
| 62 Republic of Ireland | 4                 |      |
| 63 Republic of         | Korea             | 5    |
| 64 Romania             |                   | 2    |
| 65                     | Russia            | 7    |
| 66                     | Rwanda            | 2    |
| 67 Saudi Arabia        |                   | 2383 |
| 68 Senegal             |                   | 4    |
| 69                     | Serbia            | 6    |
| 70 Singapore           |                   | 117  |
| 71 South Africa        |                   | 2    |
| 72                     | Spain             | 31   |
| 73 Sri                 | Lanka             | 55   |
| 74                     | Sweden            | 2    |
| 75                     | Switzerland       | 2    |
| 76                     | Tajikistan        | 2    |

| 77                      | Tanzania       | 3    |
|-------------------------|----------------|------|
| 78 Thailand             | 41             |      |
| 79 Togo                 | 2              |      |
| 80 Trinidad and Tobago  | 2              |      |
| 81 United Arab Emirates |                | 1998 |
| 82                      | United Kingdom | 280  |
| 83 USA                  |                | 157  |
| 84                      | Uzbekistan     | 2    |
| 85                      | Vietnam        | 1    |
| 86 Yemen                | 1              |      |
| 87                      | Zimbabwe       | 2    |
|                         | Total          | 9309 |

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