Lok Sabha Question No. 982 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-05
Subject: Indian Migrant Workers in Gulf Countries
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Ummeda Ram Beniwal, Ms Iqra Choudhary, Shri Godam Nagesh, Shri Madhavaneni Raghunandan Rao, Smt. Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Shri Chandra Prakash Choudhary, Shri Pushpendra Saroj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 982

ANSWERED ON- 05/12/2025

INDIAN MIGRANT WORKERS IN GULF COUNTRIES

982.  SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL

SHRI PUSHPENDRA SAROJ

SHRI GODAM NAGESH

SMT. SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO

SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH CHOUDHARY

SHRI MADHAVANENI RAGHUNANDAN RAO

MS. IQRA CHOUDHARY

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

(a) the total number of  Indian Migrants Worldwide along with the number and percentage of migrants from various States in each Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country since 2022, State/year-wise;

(b) whether the emigrants from various States including Telangana are   registering   with   the   Government   before   traveling   to   GCC countries, if  so, the details of  the process for registration; (c)   the   number   of   migrants   covered   under   the   Pravasi   Bharatiya Bima Yojana coverage, State-wise; (d) the number of  grievances such as wage exploitation, passport confiscation or lack of  consular support received from migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Odisha in the GCC countries, along with the action taken by the Government thereon, year-wise; (e)   whether   India   is   the   largest   migrant-sending   and   remittancereceiving country across the globe, if so, the details thereof; (f)   whether   any   instances   of   migrant   workers   being   cheated   by agents have been reported, if  so, the measures being taken to address this issue; and (g) the measures taken by the Government to ensure the safety of Indian Migrants in Gulf Countries?

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

## (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a to c)   As per available data, there are around 15 million Indian nationals abroad including unskilled workers, skilled workers and professionals. A large number of skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled workers   from   India   are   employed   in   various   sectors   in   Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries. As per the latest information available   with   our   Missions/Posts   in   the   GCC   countries,   the estimated   number   of   Indians   residing   in   these   countries   is   as follows:

|   S. No. | Country      | Estimated Number of Indians   |
|----------|--------------|-------------------------------|
|        1 | Oman         | 676,781                       |
|        2 | Qatar        | 830,491                       |
|        3 | Kuwait       | 10,36,389                     |
|        4 | Saudi Arabia | 27,47,551                     |
|        5 | Bahrain      | 3,17,564                      |
|        6 | UAE          | 43,26,248                     |

The process of overseas employment of Indian nationals holding Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports, including those from Telangana, and emigrating to any of the 19 notified ECR countries is done through e-Migrate portal. The web-based application makes the process of emigration fully digital, transparent, safe, legal, humane, efficient,   convenient,   and   faster.   It   seamlessly   brings   all stakeholders,   including   Foreign   Employers   (FEs),   registered Recruiting Agents (RAs) and the prospective emigrants on a common platform and enables MEA to capture comprehensive and online database. The Government of India accords highest priority to the safety, protection and wellbeing of Indian migrant workers in Gulf countries, including   the   workers   from   Uttar   Pradesh   and   Odisha.   The Government has taken several initiatives such as Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojna (PBBY) and Pre-Departure Orientation & Training (PDOT) in ensuring that Indian migrant workers undertake safe migration, have decent working and living conditions in destination countries, are   aware   of   their   rights   and   have   access   to   various   welfare schemes of the Government. From 2006-07 to June, 2025 a total number of 83,88,143 Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojna (PBBY) policies

4

have been issued. State-wise details, which are available for policies issued through eMigrate portal, are given at Annexure-I. (d to g) The total number of grievances received by the Indian Missions in the Gulf countries during the last three years is 1,38,213. There are established channels to enable Indian migrant workers to reach   out   to   the   Embassy/Consulate   in   case   they   need   any assistance. They can contact the Embassy/Consulate through walkin, email, multilingual 24x7 emergency numbers, Whatsapp number, grievance   redressal   portal   like   MADAD/CPGRAMS/eMigrate,   and social media etc.   There are dedicated Labour Wings for handling such matters. Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendras have been set up in key locations such as New Delhi, Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah to provide guidance and counselling to the Indian workers. On  receipt   of   any   complaint   or   grievance   from   Indian   migrant

workers, the Indian Embassy/Consulate abroad pro-actively takes it up with the concerned Foreign Employer (FE) 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 authorities of the host country for redressal. Indian Missions/Posts in Gulf countries 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   Indian   Embassy/Consulate   abroad   also   utilizes   the   Indian Community   Welfare   Fund   (ICWF)   from   time   to   time   to   provide financial and legal assistance to Indian nationals in distress on a means-tested   basis.   Under   ICWF,   the   major   assistance   includes Boarding   &   Lodging,   Air   Passage   to   India,   Legal   Assistance, Emergency Medical Care, Transportation of Mortal Remains to India, and Payment of Small Fines and Penalties. The Indian diaspora is one of the largest migrant communities in the world. According to World Bank data, India was the top recipient of remittances in the world for the year 2024.

| State/UT Name        |   Number of PBBY policy is- sued through eMigrate portal till 29.11.2025 |
|----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| ANDAMAN & NICOBAR    |                                                                      150 |
| ANDHRA PRADESH       |                                                                   231786 |
| ARUNACHAL PRADESH    |                                                                       52 |
| ASSAM                |                                                                    31877 |
| BIHAR                |                                                                   752692 |
| CHANDIGARH           |                                                                     2350 |
| CHHATTISGARH         |                                                                     1515 |
| DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI |                                                                       62 |
| DAMAN & DIU          |                                                                      271 |
| DELHI                |                                                                    17550 |
| GOA                  |                                                                     7087 |
| GUJARAT              |                                                                    46766 |
| HARYANA              |                                                                    17259 |
| HIMACHAL PRADESH     |                                                                     6288 |
| JAMMU & KASHMIR      |                                                                    42445 |
| JHARKHAND            |                                                                    49286 |
| KARNATAKA            |                                                                    67835 |
| KERALA               |                                                                   229348 |

## ANNEXURE-I

| LADAKH         |       8 |
|----------------|---------|
| LAKSHADWEEP    |      28 |
| MADHYA PRADESH |   13162 |
| MAHARASHTRA    |   91882 |
| MANIPUR        |     266 |
| MEGHALAYA      |     102 |
| MIZORAM        |      14 |
| NAGALAND       |      51 |
| ODISHA         |   95430 |
| PUDUCHERRY     |    3674 |
| PUNJAB         |  229758 |
| RAJASTHAN      |  328521 |
| SIKKIM         |      97 |
| TAMIL NADU     |  359692 |
| TELANGANA      |  172179 |
| TRIPURA        |   15844 |
| UTTAR PRADESH  | 1415861 |
| UTTARAKHAND    |   34614 |
| WEST BENGAL    |  381235 |

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