Lok Sabha Question No. 1782 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-27
Subject: Death of Indian Workers Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: ABHIJIT MUKHERJEE, PR. SENTHILNATHAN, PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL, V. SATHYABAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1782

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2016

## DEATH OF INDIAN WORKERS ABROAD

1782. SHRI ABHIJIT MUKHERJEE: SHRI PR. SENTHIL NATHAN: SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL: SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)     whether the Government has any special cell/official committee to look after the difficulties  of  distressed  Indians who work in various countries abroad;
- (b)     if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,    the  steps  taken  by  the Government  to  create  a  special  cell/team  to  assist  people under distress while working abroad;
- (c)     whether the Government has made any hassle-free arrangements  to  bring  back  the  bodies  of  deceased  Indians who die while working in foreign countries;
- (d)       if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the total number of Indian workers State-wise who died while working in foreign countries in the last three years, year-wise, country-wise and the details of compensation provided to the family of these deceased by the Government?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI M. J. AKBAR)

- (a) & (b) Consular Officers posted in Indian Missions/Posts abroad  are  tasked  with  addressing  the  difficulties  of  distressed Indians,  including  Indian  workers,  in  various  countries  abroad.  In Gulf  countries  and  in  Malaysia,  where  there  are  large  numbers  of Indian workers, our Missions and Posts have specialised Community

Welfare  Wings  and Labour  Wings.  In  addition,  the  Government  has launched an online portal called 'MADAD' for addressing the grievances of Indian nationals abroad. A Call Centre has also been in operation to assist Indian workers to register their grievances on the Madad Portal. The Portal is regularly monitored in our Missions/Posts at various levels, thus giving high priority to grievances  of  Indian  workers.  An  Indian  Workers  Resource  Center (IWRC)  has  also  been  operational  in  Dubai,  UAE,  since  2010.  Four new Indian Workers Resource Centres (IWRCs) have been approved for setting up in Riyadh, Jeddah, Sharjah and Kuala Lumpur.

(c) & (d) For the purpose of bringing back the mortal remains of an  Indian  national,  registration  of  death  at  the  concerned  Indian Mission/Post is necessary, for which some documents are required such  as,  medical  report/death  certificate  issued  from  a  hospital, copy  of  detailed  police  report  in  case  of  accidental  or  unnatural death and a consent letter from next of kin of the deceased for local cremation/burial/transportation of mortal remains. In addition to the above,  other  documents  such  as  clearance  and  arrangements  for embalming of mortal remains, clearance from local immigration/customs  department,  etc.,  may  be  required.  These procedures may differ from country to country.

While there is no undue delay in cases of natural deaths, the time taken in transporting the mortal remains to India is longer in the case of unnatural deaths, because of local procedures involved in those countries for investigating the cause of death. the concerned  foreign  Governments  to  expedite  procedures  for  the repatriation of mortal remains to India. The issue is also taken up at

Our Missions/Posts remain in constant touch with bilateral dialogues, including at high levels.

(e) State-wise details of Indian workers who died abroad are not available.  However, a list of Indian workers who died abroad for the last three years is attached at Annexure. Payment of compensation depends  upon  the  circumstances  of  injury/death,  the  terms  of  the contract and local labour laws applicable in the country of work. Our Missions and Posts provide all possible assistance to Indian nationals in following up their claims of compensation in the event of accident or death.

*****

## ANNEXURE

| Death of Indian Workers Abroad   | Death of Indian Workers Abroad   | Death of Indian Workers Abroad                                                                                                    | Death of Indian Workers Abroad                                                                                                    | Death of Indian Workers Abroad                                                                                                    | Death of Indian Workers Abroad                                                                                                    |
|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.                           | Name of Country                  | The number of death of Indian workers abroad during the last three years and this year (data includes only Indian workers abroad) | The number of death of Indian workers abroad during the last three years and this year (data includes only Indian workers abroad) | The number of death of Indian workers abroad during the last three years and this year (data includes only Indian workers abroad) | The number of death of Indian workers abroad during the last three years and this year (data includes only Indian workers abroad) |
| S. No.                           | Name of Country                  | 2013                                                                                                                              | 2014                                                                                                                              | 2015                                                                                                                              | 2016                                                                                                                              |
| 1                                | Afghanistan                      | 8                                                                                                                                 | 11                                                                                                                                | 5                                                                                                                                 | 4                                                                                                                                 |
| 2                                | Algeria                          | 2                                                                                                                                 | 3                                                                                                                                 | 4                                                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                                                 |
| 3                                | Angola                           | 5                                                                                                                                 | 9                                                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                                                 | 4                                                                                                                                 |
| 4                                | Argentina                        | 0                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 | 2                                                                                                                                 | 2                                                                                                                                 |
| 5                                | Armenia                          | 3                                                                                                                                 | 2                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 |
| 6                                | Australia                        | 51                                                                                                                                | 60                                                                                                                                | 39                                                                                                                                | 32                                                                                                                                |
| 7                                | Austria                          | 13                                                                                                                                | 7                                                                                                                                 | 14                                                                                                                                | 5                                                                                                                                 |
| 8                                | Azerbaijan                       | 1                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 |
| 9                                | Bahrain                          | 163                                                                                                                               | 175                                                                                                                               | 223                                                                                                                               | 107                                                                                                                               |
| 10                               | Bangladesh                       | 3                                                                                                                                 | 3                                                                                                                                 | 4                                                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                                                 |
| 11                               | Belgium                          | 0                                                                                                                                 | 10                                                                                                                                | 4                                                                                                                                 | 8                                                                                                                                 |
| 12                               | Bhutan                           | 26                                                                                                                                | 27                                                                                                                                | 26                                                                                                                                | 21                                                                                                                                |
| 13                               | Botswana                         | 11                                                                                                                                | 1                                                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                                                 | 8                                                                                                                                 |
| 14                               | Brazil                           | 4                                                                                                                                 | 3                                                                                                                                 | 2                                                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                                                 |
| 15                               | Bulgaria                         | 1                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 |
| 16                               | Cambodia                         | 2                                                                                                                                 | 4                                                                                                                                 | 3                                                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                                                 |
| 17                               | Canada                           | 52                                                                                                                                | 78                                                                                                                                | 67                                                                                                                                | 48                                                                                                                                |
| 18                               | Chile                            | 2                                                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                                                 |
| 19                               | China                            | 31                                                                                                                                | 38                                                                                                                                | 39                                                                                                                                | 21                                                                                                                                |
| 20                               | Congo (D.Rep.)                   | 7                                                                                                                                 | 8                                                                                                                                 | 14                                                                                                                                | 0                                                                                                                                 |
| 21                               | Croatia                          | 0                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 |
| 22                               | Cuba                             | 1                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                                                 |
| 23                               | Cyprus                           | 3                                                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 |
| 24                               | Denmark                          | 1                                                                                                                                 | 2                                                                                                                                 | 8                                                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                                                 |
| 25                               | Egypt                            | 0                                                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 |
| 26                               | Ethiopia                         | 6                                                                                                                                 | 11                                                                                                                                | 12                                                                                                                                | 2                                                                                                                                 |
| 27                               | Finland                          | 0                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                                                 |
| 28                               | France                           | 14                                                                                                                                | 22                                                                                                                                | 15                                                                                                                                | 0                                                                                                                                 |
| 29                               | Germany                          | 16                                                                                                                                | 41                                                                                                                                | 38                                                                                                                                | 16                                                                                                                                |
| 30                               | Ghana                            | 9                                                                                                                                 | 17                                                                                                                                | 13                                                                                                                                | 8                                                                                                                                 |
| 31                               | Greece                           | 16                                                                                                                                | 25                                                                                                                                | 18                                                                                                                                | 16                                                                                                                                |
| 32                               | Guatemala                        | 2                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 |
| 33                               | Guyana                           | 1                                                                                                                                 | 2                                                                                                                                 | 2                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                 |
| 34                               | Iceland                          | 2                                                                                                                                 | 2                                                                                                                                 | 2                                                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                                                 |

|   35 | Iran               |    5 |    6 |   12 |    7 |
|------|--------------------|------|------|------|------|
|   36 | Iraq               |   15 |   16 |   11 |    3 |
|   37 | Israel             |    4 |    3 |    5 |    1 |
|   38 | Italy              |   95 |   82 |   77 |   64 |
|   39 | Japan              |    4 |    6 |    3 |    1 |
|   40 | Jordan             |   12 |   12 |   14 |    9 |
|   41 | Kazakhstan         |    1 |    3 |    0 |    0 |
|   42 | Kenya              |    1 |    4 |    1 |    2 |
|   43 | Korea (Rep. of)    |    2 |    5 |    2 |    0 |
|   44 | Kuwait             |  533 |  559 |  611 |  295 |
|   45 | Laos               |    0 |    1 |    1 |    0 |
|   46 | Lebanon            |   23 |   17 |   21 |   10 |
|   47 | Libya              |   14 |   10 |    5 |    6 |
|   48 | Malawi             |    5 |    4 |    7 |    4 |
|   49 | Malaysia           |  221 |  150 |  286 |  170 |
|   50 | Mali               |    0 |    0 |    1 |    2 |
|   51 | Mauritius          |    5 |    5 |    8 |    4 |
|   52 | Mexico             |    0 |    0 |    1 |    0 |
|   53 | Mongolia           |    0 |    0 |    1 |    0 |
|   54 | Mozambique         |    3 |    4 |    5 |    4 |
|   55 | Namibia            |    3 |    1 |    2 |    1 |
|   56 | Nepal              |   25 |   46 |   81 |   30 |
|   57 | Netherlands        |    2 |    0 |    1 |    1 |
|   58 | New Zealand        |   24 |   18 |   16 |    4 |
|   59 | Niger              |    0 |    0 |    1 |    0 |
|   60 | Nigeria            |   15 |   31 |   24 |   21 |
|   61 | Norway             |    0 |    0 |    1 |    0 |
|   62 | Oman               |  555 |  519 |  520 |  272 |
|   63 | Palestine          |    0 |    0 |    0 |    1 |
|   64 | Panama             |    1 |    2 |    3 |    1 |
|   65 | Papua New Guinea   |    0 |    0 |    1 |    0 |
|   66 | Philippines        |   33 |   48 |   43 |    0 |
|   67 | Portugal           |    8 |    4 |    5 |    7 |
|   68 | Qatar              |  241 |  279 |  279 |  152 |
|   69 | Romania            |    0 |    0 |    0 |    2 |
|   70 | Russian Federation |    5 |    8 |    7 |   10 |
|   71 | Saudi Arabia       | 2394 | 2430 | 2693 | 1559 |
|   72 | Senegal            |    2 |    3 |    4 |    1 |
|   73 | Seychelles         |    6 |    6 |    2 |    4 |

| 74   | Singapore                |   17 |   21 |   17 |    9 |
|------|--------------------------|------|------|------|------|
| 75   | South Africa             |   17 |   33 |   30 |   23 |
| 76   | Sri Lanka                |    5 |    5 |    5 |    3 |
| 77   | Suriname                 |    0 |    1 |    0 |    1 |
| 78   | Sudan                    |    0 |    6 |    7 |    5 |
| 79   | Swedan                   |    1 |    0 |    0 |    0 |
| 80   | Switzerland              |    7 |    5 |    7 |    5 |
| 81   | Tajikistan               |    0 |    1 |    1 |    0 |
| 82   | Tanzania                 |    3 |   11 |   22 |   16 |
| 83   | Thailand                 |    0 |    0 |    1 |    1 |
| 84   | Trinidad and Tobago      |    0 |    0 |    1 |    1 |
| 85   | Tunisia                  |    0 |    1 |    0 |    0 |
| 86   | Turkey                   |    3 |    0 |    1 |    1 |
| 87   | Turkmenistan             |    0 |    0 |    1 |    0 |
| 88   | Uganda                   |   31 |   31 |   35 |   13 |
| 89   | United Arab Emirates     | 1385 | 1435 | 1540 |  825 |
| 90   | United Kingdom           |   92 |   93 |   86 |   32 |
| 91   | United States of America |   39 |   59 |   74 |   22 |
| 92   | Uzbekistan               |    0 |    2 |    3 |    0 |
| 93   | Venezuela                |    1 |    1 |    0 |    0 |
| 94   | Vietnam                  |    4 |    3 |    5 |    1 |
| 95   | Yemen                    |    3 |    8 |    8 |    6 |
| 96   | Zambia                   |    8 |    2 |   13 |    4 |
|      | Total                    | 6329 | 6564 | 7171 | 3927 |

*****