Lok Sabha Question No. 2503 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-13
Subject: Safety and Security of Indians Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri N K Premachandran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2503

## ANSWERED ON 13/02/2026

## SAFETY AND SECURITY OF INDIANS ABROAD

2503.   SHRI N K PREMACHANDRAN

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

- (a)   whether   the   Government   initiated   action   to   ensure   safety   and security of Indians abroad, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has initiated action to prevent human trafficking, forced labour and scams via fake job offers, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is ensuring the safety of Indians and make effective system to address during conflicts or political instability, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to establish an effective system for   addressing   the   content   violation,   unpaid   wages,   poor   working

condition and provide legal aid to the Indian workers abroad, if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a to d)   Government accords highest priority to the safety, security and well-being of Indian nationals proceeding for employment abroad. As   and   when   reports   of   illegal   migration,   visa   fraud   cases   and complaints against illegal agents/dubious firms luring Indians in false recruitment offers are received, such matters are referred to the State police   for   investigation   and   prosecution   under   the   relevant   legal provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other legislation in place including the ones enacted by some State Governments.

Government   of   India   has   taken   several   steps   to   prevent   such incidents. It has issued regular advisories cautioning Indian nationals

against fraudulent job offers and unauthorized recruiting agents and emphasized the need to verify employment credentials through Indian Missions/Posts abroad in the respective countries.

A list of 3505 (till January 2026) unregistered agents in the country has also been notified on the eMigrate portal to caution prospective emigrants.    The   awareness  campaign on safe and legal migration through eMigrate portal is carried out by the Ministry and 16 Protector of Emigrants (PoE) offices across the country from time to time by conducting   workshops,   trainings,   information   sessions,   digital campaigns for media groups, police officials and law enforcement agencies, local administration, aspiring recruiting agents, entrepreneurs and general public. During these sessions awareness on emigration regulations, schemes beneficial for emigrants like Pravasi Bharatiya   Bima   Yojana   (PBBY),   Pre-Departure   Orientation   Training (PDOT),   eMigrate   portal   and   various   advisories   issued   by   Indian Embassies are brought to the notice of all stakeholders to job seekers, and advise them to verify all antecedents of Recruiting Agents before

accepting   any   kind   of   employment   offer   and   not   be   enticed   and entrapped in the fraudulent job offers.

There are established channels for the Indian nationals to reach out to the Embassy/Consulate in case they need any assistance. They can contact the Embassy/Consulate through walk-in, email, multilingual 24x7   emergency   numbers,   WhatsApp   number,   grievance   redressal portal like MADAD/CPGRAMS/eMigrate, and social media etc. There are dedicated Labour Wings in Indian Missions/Posts abroad for handling such matters, where there is a sizeable number of Indian migrant workers. Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendras have been set up in key locations such as New Delhi, Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah and Kuala Lumpur to provide guidance and counselling to the Indian workers. In addition, Kshetriya Pravasi Sahayata Kendras (KPSKs) have also been set up in Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow, Patna and Chandigarh.

On   receipt   of   any   complaint   or   grievance   from   Indian   nationals including labourers, the Embassy/Consulate pro-actively takes it up

with the concerned Foreign Employer and, if needed, the work place of the aggrieved worker is also visited. The issues are also taken up with the local Labour Department and other concerned authority of the host country for redressal.

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.

Further,   as   additional   safeguard   for   protection   and   safety   of   the Female workers (including domestic sector workers), Government has authorized only State run Recruiting Agencies (RAs) to recruit Indian female   workers   holding   ECR   category   passports   for   overseas employment in Gulf and other notified ECR Countries through the eMigrate Portal. Moreover, there is a minimum age criteria of 30 years for   female   workers   holding   ECR   category   passport   for   overseas employment to protect them against exploitation.

The Government of India has established several bilateral mechanisms and agreements with key destination countries, including those in the Gulf   Cooperation   Council   (GCC),   to   safeguard   Indian   workers   and ensure   timely   grievance   redressal.   These   include   Labour   and Manpower   Cooperation   Agreements/MoUs,   Agreements/Protocol   on Domestic   Workers,   and   Joint   Working   Groups/Joint   Committee Meetings that oversee implementation of worker-protection provisions, streamline recruitment processes, facilitate resolution of complaints, and strengthen legal assistance frameworks.

The Missions/Posts abroad utilize the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) from time to time to provide financial and legal assistance to Indian nationals in distress abroad on a means-tested basis. Major assistance   under   ICWF   include   boarding   &   lodging,   cost   of repatriation, legal assistance, emergency medical care, transportation of mortal remains to India, etc.

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