Ministry of External Affairs Government of India

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.398
TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2021

MINIMUM WAGES OF INDIAN WORKERS

398. SHRI M. V. SHREYAMS KUMAR:

Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government has reduced the minimum referral wages of Indian workers for employment in the Gulf countries and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether Government will consider revising this reduction given in minimum referral wages for employment in Gulf countries in the light of general economic distress caused due to COVID-19 pandemic and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the number of labour related complaints received by embassies in Gulf countries during the last three years, country-wise?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN])

(a & b) The Minimum Referral Wages (MRWs) for employment in six Gulf countries is the same now as it was in 2019-20. For a brief period of 10 months, the MRWs were adjusted downwards to protect our employment in the Gulf. As the labour market stabilized, the earlier MRW was made applicable once more.

(c) The number of labour complaints received by embassies in Gulf countries in the last three years are as follows:-

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