Ministry of External Affairs Government of India

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.502
TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2017

DECLINE IN NUMBER OF INDIAN WORKERS IN GULF COUNTRIES

†502. SHRI JAVED ALI KHAN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the total number of Indian workers working in Gulf countries, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain for the last three years, year-wise;

(b) whether any decline has been registered in the number of workers in these countries since 2014;

(c) whether Government has conducted any study on the reasons for this decline; and

(d) whether Government has made any estimate of loss of foreign exchange due to this?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) The Government maintains the data in respect of Emigration Check Required (ECR) passport holders, travelling legally to any of the 18 ECR countries for overseas employment. The number of such Indian workers emigrating to six gulf countries during the last three years is as under:

(b) & (c) There has been a decline in the number of Indian workers emigrating to the gulf countries for employment due to economic slowdown in GCC countries triggered by the weak oil prices, which has resulted in lack of demand for workers. However, it has been reported by the Indian Missions that by undertaking different fiscal measures, these countries have been able to cope with the depressed oil and gas prices.

(d) As per information provided by the Reserve Bank of India, the overall remittances/private transfers made by the Indians working abroad, all over the world, including Gulf countries, as recorded in India’s balance of payments statistics has fallen slightly from US$ 69,819 Million in 2014-15 to US$ 65,592 Million in 2015-16.

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