Lok Sabha Question No. 694 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-29
Subject: Compensation for Indian Migrant Workers
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Sudama Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 694

## ANSWERED ON- 29/11/2024

## COMPENSATION FOR INDIAN MIGRANT WORKERS

## 694.  SHRI SUDAMA PRASAD

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

- (a) the details of Indian citizens currently employed in various countries, country-wise;
- (b) the details of Indian citizens currently employed in various countries as per their State of origin, State-wise;
- (c) the top ten countries with the highest number of Indian workers and their respective employments;
- (d) the number of Indian migrant workers who have died overseas while in employment and the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to return their corpses to their families for dignified funeral, and compensation and other financial support given to their families;

(e) whether the Government has undertaken any specific study/studies about the living and working conditions of Indian migrants abroad and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(f)   whether Government has undertaken any initiatives to ameliorate the living and working conditions of Indian migrants abroad and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

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

## (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a & b) As per the available information, there are around 15 million Indian nationals abroad including unskilled workers, skilled workers and professionals.  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 18 notified ECR category countries.   The   country-wise   and   the   State/UT-wise data   of   Emigration Clearances   (ECs)   granted   to   such   workers   during   the   last   4   years   are enclosed as Annexure - I and Annexure-II respectively.

(c) As per the EC data issued during 2021-2024, the top ten countries to which highest number of Indian workers emigrated is given below.

|   Sr. No. | Name of the country   | Number EC issued   |
|-----------|-----------------------|--------------------|
|         1 | Saudi Arabia          | 5,63,813           |
|         2 | United Arab Emirates  | 2,12,018           |
|         3 | Kuwait                | 1,64,017           |
|         4 | Qatar                 | 1,32,887           |
|         5 | Oman                  | 94,907             |
|         6 | Malaysia              | 33,482             |
|         7 | Bahrain               | 31,836             |
|         8 | Jordan                | 8,982              |
|         9 | Iraq                  | 6,370              |
|        10 | Lebanon               | 666                |

Majority of these  workers from India are employed in the Gulf countries in various sectors like construction, oil & gas, food and beverage industry, hospitality, retail, housekeeping, domestic work, warehousing and logistics, healthcare, engineering, IT, finance, farming, manufacturing, transport, port and shipping, tourism, mining, education, wholesale, retail,   automobiles, domestic works such as plumbers, electricians, drivers, maids, cleaners, and cooks etc.

- (d) The data pertaining to cases of death of Indian nationals (including Indian workers) in ECR countries during year 2024 is given below:

|   Sr. No. | Country              | Number of death   |
|-----------|----------------------|-------------------|
|         1 | Saudi Arabia         | 1,025             |
|         2 | United Arab Emirates | 1,681             |
|         3 | Kuwait               | 564               |
|         4 | Qatar                | 210               |
|         5 | Oman                 | 284               |
|         6 | Malaysia             | 387               |
|         7 | Bahrain              | 205               |
|         8 | Jordan               | 05                |
|         9 | Lebanon              | 16                |
|        10 | Sudan                | 03                |
|        11 | South Sudan          | 03                |
|        12 | Indonesia            | 07                |
|        13 | Afghanistan          | 02                |
|        14 | Libya                | 04                |

Our Missions/Posts abroad on receipt of information about death of Indian national,   promptly   issues   all   death   related   documents,   No   Objection Certificate   for   transportation   of   the   mortal   remains   to   India   or   local cremation, as per the wish of family of the deceased. Missions/Posts liaise with   the   employer/sponsor   to   complete   all   the   formalities   and   obtain clearance from local authorities for timely dispatch of the mortal remains to

India or dignified local cremation. In the event of non-cooperation of the employer/sponsor, the Missions/Posts take up the matter with the local government authorities to impress upon the employer/sponsor to expedite the   formalities. In   deserving   cases   on   means   and   tested   basis,   the Missions/Posts process the dispatch formalities bearing all the expenditure for transportation of the mortal remains from Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF). For payment of compensation, the Missions/Posts assiduously follow up with the employer/sponsor/local authorities to get the admissible legal dues/End Service Benefits of the deceased as per the local Labour laws for disbursement to the legal heirs of the deceased in India.  In some case Missions/Posts,   if   authorized   by   the   family   to   proceed   with   the   death compensation claim, files death claims in court through panel of lawyers and regularly updates the family on the progress of the case.

(e & f) Government accords utmost priority to the safety, security and well-being of Indian nationals abroad and has robust mechanism to monitor working conditions and grievance redressal of Indian workers abroad.  Our Missions/Posts abroad from time to time receive various types of complaints from   the   Indian   nationals   working   abroad   and   these   include   delay   in payment/non-payment   of   salaries,   retention   of   passports,   unfair   working conditions,   sub-standard   accommodation,   extended   working   hours,   illtreatment/harassment, excessive work, denial of entry/exit permit/renewal of

visa/final   exit   permit,   non-payment   of   salary   and   not   placing   in   the   job promised etc.

Our Missions and Posts abroad remain vigilant all the time and actively monitor the working conditions of Indians nationals abroad. The Government has established various channels to enable Indian nationals working abroad to reach out to the Mission/Post in case they need any assistance. They can contact the Missions/Posts through walk-in interview, email, multilingual 24x7 emergency numbers, grievance redressal portal like MADAD, CPGAMS, and eMigrate, and social media etc. As and when such cases are reported, the   Missions/Posts   take   prompt   action   in   coordination   with   the employer/sponsor/agent   and   local   authorities   and   extend   all   possible assistance   to   the   aggrieved   Indian   worker.  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.   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. 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.

*****

Annexure - I Country-wise Emigration Clearance (EC) data from 01-01-2021 to 19-11-2024

| Country              | Number EC issued   |
|----------------------|--------------------|
| SAUDI ARABIA         | 5,63,813           |
| UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | 2,12,018           |
| KUWAIT               | 1,64,017           |
| QATAR                | 1,32,887           |
| OMAN                 | 94,907             |
| MALAYSIA             | 33,482             |
| BAHRAIN              | 31,836             |
| JORDAN               | 8,982              |
| IRAQ                 | 6,370              |
| LEBANON              | 666                |
| THAILAND             | 18                 |
| INDONESIA            | 5                  |
| SOUTH SUDAN          | 2                  |
| SUDAN                | 2                  |
| Total                | 12,49,005          |

Annexure - II State/UT-wise Emigration Clearance (EC) data from 01-01-2021 to 19-11-2024

| Sr. No.                 | Name of State/UTs   | Number EC issued   |
|-------------------------|---------------------|--------------------|
| 1.                      | ANDAMAN & NICOBAR   | 38                 |
| 2.                      | ANDHRA PRADESH      | 55,485             |
| 3.                      | ARUNACHAL PRADESH   | 14                 |
| 4.                      | ASSAM               | 10,167             |
| 5. BIHAR                |                     | 2,17,335           |
| 6. CHANDIGARH           | 824                 |                    |
| 7. CHHATTISGARH         | 380                 |                    |
| 8. DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI | 12                  |                    |
| 9. DAMAN &              | DIU 67              |                    |
| 10. DELHI               |                     | 4,999              |
| 11.                     | GOA                 | 1,615              |
| 12.                     | GUJARAT             | 12,660             |
| 13.                     | HARYANA             | 4,221              |
| 14. HIMACHAL            | PRADESH 1,347       |                    |
| 15. JAMMU &             | KASHMIR 15,033      |                    |
| 16. JHARKHAND           |                     | 14,267             |
| 17.                     | KARNATAKA           | 19,242             |
| 18. KERALA              |                     | 60,113             |
| 19.                     | LADAKH              | 3                  |

| 20.   | LAKSHADWEEP      | 6         |
|-------|------------------|-----------|
| 21.   | MADHYA PRADESH   | 3,933     |
| 22.   | MAHARASHTRA      | 22,812    |
| 23.   | MANIPUR          | 98        |
| 24.   | MEGHALAYA        | 32        |
| 25.   | MIZORAM          | 3         |
| 26.   | NAGALAND 13      |           |
| 27.   | ODISHA           | 22,948    |
| 28.   | PUDUCHERRY 1,120 |           |
| 29.   | PUNJAB           | 39,241    |
| 30.   | RAJASTHAN        | 87,388    |
| 31.   | SIKKIM           | 14        |
| 32.   | TAMIL NADU       | 78,528    |
| 33.   | TELANGANA        | 35,505    |
| 34.   | TRIPURA          | 3,726     |
| 35.   | UTTAR PRADESH    | 4,25,851  |
| 36.   | UTTARAKHAND      | 11,143    |
| 37.   | WEST BENGAL      | 98,822    |
|       | Grand Total      | 12,49,005 |

*****