Lok Sabha Question No. 5694 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Bilateral Labour Agreements  with West Asian Countries
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Sachithanantham R

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5694

## ANSWERED ON 27/03/2026

## BILATERAL LABOUR AGREEMENTS WITH WEST ASIAN COUNTRIES

5694. SHRI SACHITHANANTHAM R

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

- (a) the details of the bilateral labour agreements or MoUs signed by the Government with the West Asian countries to protect contract labourers rights   along   with   the   monitoring   mechanisms   in   place   to   ensure   its enforcement;
- (b) whether the Government has taken up cases of exploitation under the Kafala sponsorship system with the host Governments, if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
- (c) whether legal aids cells are functioning in all Indian missions in West Asia, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the number of workers who availed legal assistance during the last three years?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) & (b) The   Government   has   established   a   robust   institutional framework to promote safe and legal migration while ensuring welfare and safety   and   preventing   exploitation   of   Indians   abroad,   including   Indian workers. MoUs/Agreements such as Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements (MMPAs), Labour Mobility and Labour Welfare Agreements have   been   signed   with   the   partner   countries   for   establishing   robust frameworks   for   migrant   workers   welfare   and   protection   and   legal migration   and   for   preventing   irregular   migration.   The   Labour   and Manpower Cooperation MOUs/Agreements that provide the overarching framework for cooperation on labour and manpower related issues have been signed with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates) and Jordan. Further, to safeguard the specific interests of domestic workers in GCC Countries, agreements on Labour Cooperation for Domestic Sector Workers (DSWs) have been signed with Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait.

It has been noticed that some of the Indian workers abroad, including in Gulf countries, at times face difficulty due to unfair working conditions. Majority   of   these   complaints   pertain   to   labour   disputes   like   delay   in

payment or non-payment of salaries and overtime wages as well as that of end of service benefits, unauthorized retention of passports, long working hours, inability to take leave, offer of jobs different to that promised at the time of recruitment, unexpected layoff, inordinate complexity in changing the employers, problems of accommodation, denial of legitimate labour rights, non-issuance/renewal of residence permits, refusal to grant exit/reentry permits to visit India, refusal to allow return to India on final exit visa after completion of contract, non-provision of medical and insurance facilities, denial of death benefits to family etc.

Government of India has robust mechanism to monitor working conditions and grievance redressal of all Indian workers abroad. Our Missions and Posts abroad remain vigilant 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   easily   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 (Saudi   Arabia)   to   provide   guidance   and   counselling   to   Indian   workers

abroad on all matters. There are dedicated Labour Wings in all the Indian Missions in GCC 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 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 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. Until Dec 2025, around Rs. 758 crores has been utilized by Indian Missions/Posts abroad under the Fund and around 3.67 Lakhs Indians were extended assistance.

(c) Indian   Missions   and   Posts   assist   in   providing   legal   aid   wherever required by Indian nationals including those cheated by agents and those facing physical or mental harassment or injustice by sponsors etc. Indian Missions/Posts also extends all possible consular assistance to Indians imprisoned abroad. A local panel of  lawyers is maintained by all such Indian Missions/Posts where Indian community exists in sizeable numbers. Indian Missions/Posts regularly organize Open Houses and Consular Camps to get the feedback from the Indian workers abroad and address their grievances. As soon as the information about the detention/arrest of an Indian national is received by an Indian Mission/Post, it immediately gets in touch with the local Foreign Office and other concerned local authorities to   get   consular   access   to   the   detained/arrested   Indian   national   to ascertain the facts of the case, his or her Indian nationality and ensure his or her welfare. No fee is charged from any Indian prisoner for extending facilities by the Indian Embassy concerned.

(d) The expenditure details on providing legal assistance to the workers during the last three years and the current year in the Gulf region is placed at Annexure-A.

## Annexure-A

| The number of workers who availed legal assistance during the last three years   | The number of workers who availed legal assistance during the last three years   | The number of workers who availed legal assistance during the last three years   | The number of workers who availed legal assistance during the last three years   | The number of workers who availed legal assistance during the last three years   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                  |                                                                                  | 2023                                                                             | 2024                                                                             | 2025                                                                             |
| Sl. No.                                                                          | Countries                                                                        | Beneficiaries                                                                    | Beneficiaries                                                                    | Beneficiaries                                                                    |
| 1                                                                                | Bahrain                                                                          | 5                                                                                | 5                                                                                | 0                                                                                |
| 2                                                                                | Iraq                                                                             | 0                                                                                | 0                                                                                | 1                                                                                |
| 3                                                                                | Kuwait                                                                           | 1                                                                                | 4                                                                                | 4                                                                                |
| 4                                                                                | Oman                                                                             | 138                                                                              | 36                                                                               | 0                                                                                |
| 5                                                                                | Qatar                                                                            | 156                                                                              | 72                                                                               | 51                                                                               |
| 6                                                                                | Saudi Arabia                                                                     | 2                                                                                | 1                                                                                | 0                                                                                |
| 7                                                                                | UAE                                                                              | 6                                                                                | 0                                                                                | 1                                                                                |
|                                                                                  | Total                                                                            | 308                                                                              | 118                                                                              | 57                                                                               |

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