**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 1244 in Lok Sabha concerning data on migrant workers, answered on 06/02/2026. It outlines the government's data maintenance practices, measures to address worker issues, and grievance redressal mechanisms, particularly for migrants from Andhra Pradesh. The document provides data on Emigration Clearances from Andhra Pradesh between 2021 and 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Data Maintenance:**
* The Ministry maintains data on Indian workers holding Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports proceeding for employment in notified ECR category countries through the e-Migrate portal.
* The document provides a gender-wise breakdown of Emigration Clearances (ECs) granted to emigrants from Andhra Pradesh from 01.01.2021 to 31.12.2025.
* **Safety and Assistance:**
* The Government prioritizes the safety, security, protection, and wellbeing of Indian workers abroad, including those from Andhra Pradesh.
* Established channels exist for workers to contact the Embassy/Consulate (walk-in, email, 24x7 emergency numbers, WhatsApp, grievance redressal portals).
* Dedicated Labour Wings in Indian Missions/Posts abroad handle worker matters.
* Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendras have been set up in key locations like New Delhi, Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Kuala Lumpur for guidance and counseling.
* **Grievance Redressal:**
* Indian Missions/Posts organize Open Houses and Consular Camps to address grievances of Indian workers.
* Complaints are proactively taken up with concerned Foreign Employers (FE), and the workplace is visited if required.
* Employment issues are raised with local labour departments and authorities of the host country.
* **Safeguards for Female Domestic Workers:**
* Only State-run Recruiting Agencies (RAs) can recruit Indian female workers with ECR passports for overseas employment in 19 notified ECR countries via the e-Migrate Portal.
* A minimum age of 30 years is required for female workers with ECR passports seeking overseas employment.
* **Financial and Legal Assistance:**
* The Embassy/Consulate utilizes the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) to provide financial and legal assistance to Indian nationals in distress.
* Assistance includes Boarding & Lodging, Air Passage to India, legal assistance, emergency medical care, transportation of mortal remains, and payment of small fines and penalties.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Indian Migrant Workers from Andhra Pradesh (Holding ECR passports)**
* **Impact:**
* Data collected from 2021 to 2025 on EC clearances from the Indian Ministry.
* Access to information about grievance redressal mechanisms and support services.
* Protection measures, especially for female domestic workers.
* **Action Required:**
* Utilize available channels (Embassy/Consulate, grievance portals, etc.) to seek assistance when needed.
* Be aware of the minimum age requirement for female workers.
* Understand the support available through ICWF in case of distress.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of External Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for India's foreign relations.
e-Migrate portal: A system for managing the emigration process for Indian workers going abroad.
Andhra Pradesh: An Indian state relevant as data is given for emigrants from the state.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Indian Parliament, where the question was raised.
Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF): A fund used by Indian embassies/consulates to assist distressed Indian nationals abroad.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1244
ANSWERED ON- 06/02/2026
DATA ON MIGRANT WORKERS
1244. SHRI RAMASAHAYAM RAGHURAM REDDY
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government has a designated and periodically updated
database for Indian migrant workers in foreign countries, if so, the details
thereof, State-wise and gender-wise for Andhra Pradesh indicating the
periodicity thereof;
(b) whether steps have been taken to address issues such as lack of
wages and trafficking faced by migrant workers from Srikakulam and
Vizianagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh in Gulf countries, if so, the
details thereof; and
(c) the details of grievance redressal mechanisms available for these
migrant workers and its operational mechanism?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
1(a to c) Ministry maintains data in respect of Indian workers, holding
Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports, proceeding for employment
to any of the notified ECR category countries, through e-Migrate portal.
Country-wise and gender-wise data on the number of Emigration
Clearances (ECs) granted to the emigrants from Andhra Pradesh during
the last five years is given below:
EC count gender-wise for Andhra Pradesh From 01.01.2021 to
31.12.2025
Year Gender EC Count
2021 Female 998
2021 Male 4484
2022 Female 4704
2022 Male 14643
2023 Female 3287
2023 Male 13100
2024 Female 4807
2024 Male 11808
2025 Female 5787
2025 Male 12583
Total 76201
2The Government of India accords highest priority to the safety, security,
protection and wellbeing of Indian workers, including those from Andhra
Pradesh, abroad. There are established channels to enable them 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 in Indian Missions/Posts abroad 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 get feedback from Indian workers residing in
such areas and to address their grievances, if any. On receipt of complaint
from or on behalf of the emigrant, the same is taken up pro-actively with
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 authorities of the host country for redressal.
3Further, as additional safeguard for protection and safety of the female
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 the notified 19 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 Embassy/Consulate abroad also utilizes the Indian Community
Welfare Fund (ICWF) from time to time to provide financial and legal
assistance to Indian nationals in distress on a means-tested basis. Under
ICWF, the major assistance includes Boarding & Lodging, Air Passage to
India, legal assistance, emergency medical care, transportation of mortal
remains to India, and payment of small fines and penalties.
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