Lok Sabha Question No. 1150 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-08
Subject: Employed Indians in other Countries
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: V. Kalanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

ANSWERED ON- 08/12/2023

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1150

## EMPLOYED INDIANS IN OTHER COUNTRIES

1150. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY

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

- (a) the details on Indian citizens currently employed in various foreign countries;
- (b) whether the Government has maintained any data of the top five countries with the highest number of Indian workers and their respective industries;
- (c) if so, the details of Tamil individuals currently employed abroad;
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to support Tamil workers employed overseas; and
- (e) whether there are any specific initiatives to address the unique challenges faced by Tamil workers and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN)

(a & b) As per available data, there are around 15 million Indian nationals abroad including unskilled workers, skilled workers and professionals. This 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 ECR countries.

Top five countries with the highest number of Indian workers are tabulated below. Ministry does not maintain industry wise data of Indians abroad:

|   Sr. No. | Name of the country   |   Approx. number of Indians in lakh |
|-----------|-----------------------|-------------------------------------|
|         1 | United Arab Emirates  |                               35.54 |
|         2 | Saudi Arabia          |                               22.19 |
|         3 | Kuwait                |                                8.29 |
|         4 | Qatar                 |                                8    |
|         5 | Oman                  |                                5.3  |

(c) Country-wise details of Emigration Clearance issued to workers from Tamil Nadu during 2023 is enclosed as Annexure .

(d & e) Government of India has robust mechanism to monitor working conditions and grievance redressal of all Indian workers abroad, including from Tamil Nadu. Our Missions and Posts abroad remain vigilant all the time and actively monitor and follow each type of grievance 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 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 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, if 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.

Indian 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 the ICWF major 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.

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## Annexure

| Country wise Emigration Clearance (EC) data for the workers from the State of Tamil Nadu from 2022 to Nov' 2023   |   Country wise Emigration Clearance (EC) data for the workers from the State of Tamil Nadu from 2022 to Nov' 2023 |   Country wise Emigration Clearance (EC) data for the workers from the State of Tamil Nadu from 2022 to Nov' 2023 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Country                                                                                                           |                                                                                                              2022 |                                                                                                              2023 |
| United Arab Emirates                                                                                              |                                                                                                              2269 |                                                                                                              2986 |
| Saudi Arabia                                                                                                      |                                                                                                              6888 |                                                                                                              8225 |
| Malaysia                                                                                                          |                                                                                                              3953 |                                                                                                              7272 |
| Kuwait                                                                                                            |                                                                                                              5218 |                                                                                                              2794 |
| Oman                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              3001 |                                                                                                              1808 |
| Qatar                                                                                                             |                                                                                                              1705 |                                                                                                              1695 |
| Bahrain                                                                                                           |                                                                                                               456 |                                                                                                               421 |
| Jordan                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                50 |                                                                                                                33 |
| Iraq                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                13 |                                                                                                                37 |
| Lebanon                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                 3 |                                                                                                                 0 |
| Grand total                                                                                                       |                                                                                                             23556 |                                                                                                             25271 |

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