RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4417
ANSWERED ON - 02/04/2026
WELFARE OUTCOMES FOR INDIANS ABROAD
4417. SHRI G.C. CHANDRASHEKHAR
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-
(a) whether Government has analysed complaints, wage disputes, detentions andrepatriations involving Indian nationals abroad;
(b) if so, the details thereof, country-wise; and
(c) the corrective diplomatic and legal mechanisms activated to reduce grievance andimprove worker protection?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a to c) As per information available, year-wise and country-wise data of complaints/grievances received from Indian workers abroad as well as the complaints/grievances resolved by Indian Missions/Posts abroad during the last five years, is given in Annexure-A.
The Government of India accords highest priority to the safety, protection and wellbeing of Indian workers abroad. There are established channels to enable the Indian workers 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 reach out to 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. Missions/Posts also take up the issues of Indian emigrant workers 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.
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 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.
As far as detention of Indian nationals and their repatriation is concerned, most of the foreign countries do not provide information on illegal stay in their countries, except when they are under orders of deportation and their travel document/nationality verification is required. There are several reasons for detention and deportation of Indians abroad, including overstay beyond validity of visa or residency card, working without work permit, violating labour regulations, absconding from the employer and facing of civil or criminal cases, etc. Based on the data available with our Missions abroad, country-wise and year-wise data of Indian nationals deported/repatriated during the last five years is given in Annexure-B.