RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 33
TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2017

INDIANS WORKING AS LABOUR IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

†33. SHRI SANJAY SETH:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the countries where Indian citizens are working only as labourers and number of such persons, country-wise;

(b) whether all such labourers are working as per Government rules or they are also made to work illegally; and

(c) whether Government proposes to establish any labour cell under the Ministry?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI M. J. AKBAR)

(a) This Ministry maintains data relating to emigration of workers, i.e. Emigration Check Required (ECR) category passport holders proceeding for overseas employment to the 18 notified ECR countries; namely Afghanistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Thailand, UAE and Yemen. Most of the Missions in these countries have reported that in addition to large number of Indian workers employed as skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers engaged in industrial, construction, sanitation, domestic and agricultural sectors, there are also Indians working as professionals, viz. bankers, doctors, engineers, Chartered Accountants, lawyers etc. and businessmen also in these countries. The number of ECR passport holding Indian workers, who proceeded after obtaining Emigration Clearance (EC) for overseas employment in ECR countries, during the last three years is annexed.

(b) & (c) Indian workers with ECR passport who emigrate after obtaining Emigration Clearances (EC) from any of the ten Protector of Emigrants (PoE) offices in the country through the online emigration clearance system (e-migrate portal) of the Ministry of External Affairs, can work legally in the destination country and are covered under their labour laws and provided protection by the Protector General of Emigrants of the Ministry of External Affairs. However, action is taken by the Governments at destination countries also, against those who do not emigrate as per the Government rules and seek employment in violation of the local laws/rules. There is no proposal of establishing any labour cell in the Ministry, as the ten Protector of Emigrants (PoE) offices in India, under the supervision of Protector General of India, are already mandated to ensure protection and welfare of overseas Indian workers.

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