RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1355
ANSWERED ON- 11/12/2025
ASSISTANCE TO INDIANS FACING FRAUD AND EXPLOITATION ABROAD
1355. SHRI RAVI CHANDRA VADDIRAJU
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-
(a) the country-wise data of Indian nationals who approached Missions/Posts for assistance in cases of job fraud, trafficking or contract violations during the period from 2022 to 2025;
(b) the number of interventions made through MADAD and other grievance systems;
(c) the repatriation support extended in these cases; and
(d) the steps taken to strengthen bilateral mechanisms for preventing fraudulent recruitments ?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a & b) As per the records available with Indian Missions/Posts abroad, the details of Indian nationals who sought assistance in cases of job fraud, trafficking, or contract violation, along with information on the interventions made under MADAD and other grievance-redressal mechanisms, are provided at Annexure-I.
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(c & d) The Government of India accords highest priority to the safety, security, protection and wellbeing of Indian workers abroad. There are established channels to enable them to reach out to the Indian Embassy/Consulate abroad 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 in countries with sizable population of Indian workers, 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 Indian workers.
Indian Missions/Posts abroad 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. On receipt of complaint from or on behalf of the emigrant, the same is taken up pro-actively with the concerned Foreign Employer (FE) 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 authorities of the host country for redressal.
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 e-Migrate 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 Embassy/Consulate 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 provided 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. Details of exenditure made by Indian Mission/Post abroad on air passages for repatriation of stranded Indians from ICWF during the period 2023-2025 is given at Annexure-II..
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. Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements signed with countries also contain provisions for holding regular Joint Working Group meetings under which such issues pertaining to students, professionals, and reseachers are highlighted. Missions/Posts take up the issue of rescue and repatriation of Indian nationals actively with the local Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other concerned Government agencies of the host country like Immigration, Labour Department, Home Affairs, Defence and Border Affairs and law enforcement agencies. These arrangements along with dedicated mechanisms in the Indian Missions abroad such as helpdesks, shelter facilities, online grievance portals, and coordinated interventions with local authorities ensure support for Indian workers facing exploitation or contract violations.
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