RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3129
ANSWERED ON 19/03/2026
STATUS OF INDIANS WORKING ABROAD
3129. DR. SASMIT PATRA
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the number of Indian nationals working abroad who, have died, been imprisoned /jailed, been accused of or convicted for crimes or have been victims of crimes during the last five years, country-wise;
(b) the number of Indians who reported labour-related grievances, including non-payment of wages, passport confiscation or contract violations;
(c) the number of Indians who sought assistance from Indian Missions/Posts and the nature of assistance provided;
(d) how many of them have been repatriated and how many cases remain pending; and
(e) the measures taken to safeguard Indian workers overseas?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a & b) As per the information available, country-wise details of number of deaths of Indian nationals abroad during the last five years is enclosed at Annexure-A.
Country-wise details of Indian prisoners, including under trial, in foreign prisons at present is enclosed at Annexure-B.
As per information available, year-wise and country-wise details of labour-related grievances received from Indian workers abroad, including those related to non-payment of wages/wage theft, passport confiscation or contract violations and number of grievances resolved by Indian Missions/Posts abroad during the last five years, are given in Annexure-C.
(c to e) Year-wise and country-wise details of Indian workers repatriated/deported in the last five years are given in Annexure-D.
The Government of India accords highest priority to the safety, protection and wellbeing of Indian workers abroad. There are established channels to enable them 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 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. 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.
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 (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 authority 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 Missions/Posts also 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. Under ICWF, the major assistance/facilitation like Boarding & Lodging, Air Passage to India, Legal Assistance, Emergency Medical Care, Transportation of Mortal Remains to India, etc., are rendered on priority basis.
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