Lok Sabha Question No. 1383 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-29
Subject: Migrant Workers
Ministry: OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL

Government of India

Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1383**

To be answered on 29 th July, 2015

**Migrant Workers**

**†1383. SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:**

Will the Minister of OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

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(a) the number of migrant workers who died in foreign countries including Gulf countries during the last three years;

(b) the country-wise details thereof;

(c) the number of Indian workers employed in Gulf countries, country-wise; and

(d) the details of the measures adopted to ensure their safety?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS**

**SMT. SUSHMA SWARAJ**

(a) & (b): Information on the number of Indians who died in foreign countries as received from the Indian Missions abroad in July 2015 is given in  Annexure-I

(c): The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs regulates emigration clearance of ECR category passport holders going for employment to the 18 ECR countries namely Afghanistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Thailand, UAE and Yemen.  Information on such workers who have been granted emigration clearance for these countries, including Gulf countries, is given in Annexure -II

(d): Measures adopted by the Government to ensure safety of Indian workers in ECR category include:

(i) Indian workers in the Emigration Clearance Required Category going to ECR countries for employment can do so only after taking emigration clearance from the offices of the Protector of Emigrants.

Contd/…2

-2-

(ii) In respect of vulnerable categories (Unskilled and Domestic Sector Workers and Housemaids), pre-attestation of document by Indian Mission is required before emigration clearance could be given by the Protector of Emigrants (PoE) Offices.

(iii) Minimum age requirement of 30 years for women emigrating on ECR passports to ECR countries, with Minimum Referral Wage and a security deposit of US$ 2500 to be paid by foreign employer. Their employment documents have to be attested by the Indian Mission concerned before grant of emigration clearance is considered

(iv) Whenever complaints are received about the safety of Indian workers, the Indian Missions take it up with local Governments, if necessary.

(v) Further, the Indian Community Welfare Fund also provides for meeting contingent expenditure for carrying out on-site welfare activities for Overseas Indian Citizens in distress.

*****

Annexure-I

| Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1383 due for reply on 29/07/2015.   | Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1383 due for reply on 29/07/2015.   | Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1383 due for reply on 29/07/2015.   | Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1383 due for reply on 29/07/2015.   | Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1383 due for reply on 29/07/2015.   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl.No.                                                                                                                | Name of Country                                                                                                       | No. of Indians who died in foreign countries                                                                          | No. of Indians who died in foreign countries                                                                          | No. of Indians who died in foreign countries                                                                          |
| Sl.No.                                                                                                                | Name of Country                                                                                                       | 2013                                                                                                                  | 2014                                                                                                                  | 2015 till date                                                                                                        |
|                                                                                                                       | Afghanistan  - Majar e Sarif CGI - EoI Kabul - CGI Kandhar                                                            | Nil  6  1                                                                                                             | 1  9  Nil                                                                                                             | Nil  5  Nil                                                                                                           |
|                                                                                                                       | Angola                                                                                                                | 16                                                                                                                    | 16                                                                                                                    | 16                                                                                                                    |
|                                                                                                                       | Australia  - Perth                                                                                                    | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Austria and Montenegro                                                                                                | 7                                                                                                                     | 2                                                                                                                     | NA                                                                                                                    |
|                                                                                                                       | Bahamas                                                                                                               | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Bahrain                                                                                                               | 163                                                                                                                   | 175                                                                                                                   | 117                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Bangladesh  - Chittagong - Dhaka                                                                                      | 2  Nil                                                                                                                | 3  Nil                                                                                                                | Nil  Nil                                                                                                              |
|                                                                                                                       | Belarus                                                                                                               | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Bolivia                                                                                                               | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Brunei Darussalam                                                                                                     | 12                                                                                                                    | 8                                                                                                                     | 5                                                                                                                     |
|                                                                                                                       | Burkina Faso                                                                                                          | Nil                                                                                                                   | 1                                                                                                                     | NA                                                                                                                    |
|                                                                                                                       | Burundi                                                                                                               | 1                                                                                                                     | 2                                                                                                                     | Nil                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Cambodia                                                                                                              | 1                                                                                                                     | 1                                                                                                                     | Nil                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Cayman Islands                                                                                                        | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Chile                                                                                                                 | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Central African Republic                                                                                              | 1                                                                                                                     | 1                                                                                                                     | 1                                                                                                                     |
|                                                                                                                       | Congo (Republic of)                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Cook Island                                                                                                           | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Denmark                                                                                                               | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Egypt                                                                                                                 | NA                                                                                                                    | 01                                                                                                                    | NA                                                                                                                    |
|                                                                                                                       | Estonia                                                                                                               | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Fiji                                                                                                                  | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Finland                                                                                                               | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Gabon                                                                                                                 | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Ghana                                                                                                                 | 4                                                                                                                     | 9                                                                                                                     | NA                                                                                                                    |
|                                                                                                                       | Iceland                                                                                                               | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Indonesia                                                                                                             | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Iran                                                                                                                  | 5                                                                                                                     | 6                                                                                                                     | 3                                                                                                                     |
|                                                                                                                       | Iraq                                                                                                                  | 15                                                                                                                    | 16                                                                                                                    | NA                                                                                                                    |
|                                                                                                                       | Italy                                                                                                                 | 61                                                                                                                    | 49                                                                                                                    | NA                                                                                                                    |
|                                                                                                                       | Jamaica                                                                                                               | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Japan                                                                                                                 | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                       | Jordan                                                                                                                | 11                                                                                                                    | 11                                                                                                                    | 8                                                                                                                     |

Contd/…2

-2-

|    | Kazakhstan                           | Nil   | 3   | NA   |
|----|--------------------------------------|-------|-----|------|
|    | Kiribati                             | Nil   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Korea (Republic of)                  | Nil   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Kuwait                               | 533   | 559 | 290  |
|    | Latvia                               | Nil   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Lebanon                              | 23    | 14  | NA   |
|    | Malaysia                             | 268   | 309 | NA   |
|    | Mali                                 | 01    | 01  | 01   |
|    | Mongolia                             | Nil   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Myanmar                              | Nil   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Nauru                                | Nil   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Nepal  - Biratnagar                  | Nil   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | New Zealand                          | 24    | 18  | 18   |
|    | Niger                                | Nil   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Oman                                 | 555   | 519 | 242  |
|    | Palestine (PLO)                      | Nil   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Papua New Guinea                     | Nil   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Peru                                 | 2     | 1   | 1    |
|    | Philippines                          | 55    | 53  | 14   |
|    | Portugal                             | 08    | 04  | 02   |
|    | Qatar                                | 241   | 279 | 159  |
|    | Russian Federation  - CGI Balivostak | Nil   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Rwanda                               | 2     | 1   | 1    |
|    | Saudi Arabia  - Jeddah               | 903   | 982 | NA   |
|    | Seychelles                           | 6     | 6   | 1    |
|    | Sierra Leone                         | 4     | 5   | NA   |
|    | South Africa                         | 11    | 13  | 08   |
|    | South Korea                          | 9     | 9   | 9    |
|    | Sri Lanka  - Jafna                   | Nil   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Sudan                                | 11    | 6   | 1    |
|    | South Sudan                          | Nil   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Sweden                               | 1     | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Syria                                | NIl   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Thailand                             | Nil   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Togo                                 | 1     | 2   | NA   |
|    | Tonga                                | Nil   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Tunisia                              | Nil   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Turkey                               | Nil   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Turks & Caicos Islands               | Nil   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Tuvalu                               | Nil   | Nil | Nil  |
|    | Uganda                               | 28    | 27  | 16   |

Contd/…3

-3-

|    | Ukraine                                       | Nil              | Nil               | Nil             |
|----|-----------------------------------------------|------------------|-------------------|-----------------|
|    | UAE                                           | 1385             | 1435              | NA              |
|    | UK                                            | Nil              | Nil               | Nil             |
|    | USA  - Chicago - Atlanta - Houston - New York | Nil  29  03  155 | Nil  33  Nil  161 | Nil  20  01  93 |
|    | Vanuatu                                       | Nil              | Nil               | Nil             |
|    | Venezuela                                     | 1                | 1                 | Nil             |
|    | Yemen                                         | 3                | 12                | 1               |
|    | Zambia                                        | Nil              | Nil               | Nil             |

**Annexure-II**

| **Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1383 due for reply on 29/07/2015.**   |                                 |                       |                         |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------|
| Country                                                                                                                   | **Emigration Clearances given** |                       |                         |
| Country                                                                                                                   | April 2012-March 2013           | April 2013-March 2014 | April 2014- March, 2015 |
| AFGHANISTAN                                                                                                               | 95                              | 200                   | 76                      |
| BAHRAIN                                                                                                                   | 20598                           | 15073                 | 16314                   |
| INDONESIA                                                                                                                 | 25                              | 34                    | 19                      |
| IRAQ                                                                                                                      | 1903                            | 7379                  | 1171                    |
| JORDAN                                                                                                                    | 1447                            | 1638                  | 2113                    |
| KUWAIT                                                                                                                    | 58865                           | 76474                 | 78396                   |
| LEBANON                                                                                                                   | 252                             | 249                   | 393                     |
| LIBYA                                                                                                                     | 1                               | 415                   | 0                       |
| MALAYSIA                                                                                                                  | 20976                           | 22014                 | 25548                   |
| OMAN                                                                                                                      | 80334                           | 57337                 | 57458                   |
| QATAR                                                                                                                     | 66901                           | 79631                 | 74839                   |
| SUDAN                                                                                                                     | 399                             | 217                   | 194                     |
| SYRIA                                                                                                                     | 5                               | 5                     | 0                       |
| SAUDI ARABIA                                                                                                              | 377494                          | 339857                | 340001                  |
| THAILAND                                                                                                                  | 7                               | 27                    | 50                      |
| UAE                                                                                                                       | 147370                          | 220392                | 229504                  |
| YEMEN                                                                                                                     | 0                               | 5                     | 3                       |
| **Total**                                                                                                                 | **776672**                      | **820947**            | **826079**              |