LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3776
ANSWERED ON- 11/08/2023
INDIAN CITIZENS IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES
3776. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-
(a) the details of Indian citizens currently employed in various countries, Country-wise;
(b) the top five countries with the highest number of Indian workers and their respective industries;
(c) the details of individuals from Tamil Nadu who are currently employed abroad;
(d) the steps taken by the government to support Tamil workers employed overseas; and
(e) whether there are any specific initiatives to address the unique challenges faced by Tamil workers abroad and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN)
(a) As per the available data, there are around 13 million Indian nationals abroad who include labourers, professionals, and experts. The number of Indians living abroad country-wise (including employed), is enclosed as Annexure I.
(b) Ministry maintains the data in respect of Indian workers, holding Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports, proceeding for overseas employment through e-Migrate portal to any of the 18 ECR countries. Top five countries with the highest number of Indian workers are tabulated below. Ministry does not maintain industry wise data of Indians abroad:
| Sr. No.. |
Name of the country |
Approx. number of Indians in lakhs |
| 1 |
United Arab Emirates |
35.54 |
| 2 |
Saudi Arabia |
22.19 |
| 3 |
Kuwait |
8.29 |
| 4 |
Qatar |
8.00 |
| 5 |
Oman |
5.30 |
(c) The details of Emigration Clearance issued to workers from Tamil Nadu country wise during 2022 is enclosed as
Annexure-II.
(d & e) Government of India has robust mechanism to monitor working conditions and grievance redressal of all Indian workers abroad, including from Tamil Nadu. Our Missions and Posts abroad remain vigilant all the time and actively monitor and follow each type of grievance received from the Indian nationals in foreign countries. The grievances are received and responded through various channels i.e. Emergency telephone number, Walk-ins, e-Mails, Social Media, 24x7 Multilingual Helpline and Open Houses etc. To enable the aggrieved Indian national to online register his/her grievances, the Government has established Portals such as MADAD and e-Migrate. Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendras (PBSK) have been set up in Dubai (UAE), Riyadh, Jeddah (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) to provide guidance and counselling to Indian workers abroad on all matters. There are dedicated Labour Wing in all the Indian Missions in Gulf Countries.
Indian Missions/Posts regularly organize Open Houses and Consular Camps in remote areas to get the feedback from the Indian workers abroad and 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 authority of the host country for prompt redressal.
The Missions/Posts utilize the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) from time to time to provide financial and legal assistance to Indian national in distress abroad on a ‘means tested basis’. Under ICWF, the major assistance includes Boarding and Lodging, Air Passage to India, Legal Assistance, Emergency Medical Care, Transportation of Mortal Remains to India, and Payment of Small Fines and Penalties.*****