Executive Summary:
The Ministry of External Affairs maintains a database of Indian migrant workers with Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports through the eMigrate portal. This data includes state-wise emigration clearances (ECs) granted from January 2020 to June 2025, with gender-wise breakdowns for Telangana. The government prioritizes the safety and well-being of these workers and provides grievance redressal mechanisms through various channels.
Key Points / Main Content:
Data Maintenance:
* The Ministry tracks Indian workers with ECR passports heading to 18 notified ECR countries via the eMigrate portal.
* State-wise data on Emigration Clearances (ECs) granted from January 2020 to June 2025 is available (Annexure I).
* Gender-wise data of ECs issued in Telangana is also maintained (Annexure II).
Worker Safety and Grievance Redressal:
* The Government of India prioritizes the safety, protection, and wellbeing of Indian workers abroad.
* Indian workers can contact the Embassy/Consulate via walk-in, email, multilingual 24x7 emergency numbers, WhatsApp, grievance portals (MADAD, CPGRAMS, eMigrate), and social media.
* Dedicated Labour Wings handle worker issues.
* Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra (PBSK) offers guidance and counselling in locations like New Delhi, Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Kuala Lumpur.
* Embassies/Consulates proactively address complaints with Foreign Employers (FE), visit workplaces if needed, and engage with local Labour Departments.
* Open Houses and Consular Camps are regularly organized for feedback and grievance redressal.
Additional Safeguards for Female Workers:
* Only state-run Recruiting Agencies (RAs) are authorized to recruit female domestic sector workers with ECR passports for overseas employment in Gulf and other notified ECR Countries.
* A minimum age of 30 is required for female workers with ECR passports to protect them from exploitation.
Financial and Legal Assistance:
* The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) provides financial and legal assistance to distressed Indian nationals on a means-tested basis.
* Assistance includes boarding, lodging, air passage to India, legal aid, emergency medical care, transportation of mortal remains, and payment of small fines.
Impact Analysis:
Indian Migrant Workers:
* Impact: Provided with various channels for grievance redressal and assistance while working abroad. Benefit from safeguards, especially female workers, against exploitation. Access to financial and legal assistance in distress.
* Action Required: Utilize available channels (helplines, portals, Embassies/Consulates) to report grievances or seek assistance when needed.
Embassies and Consulates:
* Impact: Responsible for addressing grievances of Indian migrant workers, engaging with Foreign Employers and local authorities, and organizing outreach programs.
* Action Required: Proactively address complaints, conduct workplace visits when necessary, organize Open Houses and Consular Camps, and utilize ICWF to provide assistance.
State-Run Recruiting Agencies (RAs):
* Impact: Solely authorized to recruit female domestic sector workers with ECR passports for overseas employment in Gulf and other notified ECR Countries.
* Action Required: Ensure compliance with regulations related to recruitment of female workers, including age criteria and proper documentation.
Ministry of External Affairs:
* Impact: Responsible for maintaining the eMigrate portal, tracking data on migrant workers, and ensuring the safety and well-being of Indian workers abroad.
* Action Required: Maintain and update the eMigrate portal, monitor data on migrant workers, and coordinate with Embassies/Consulates to address worker grievances.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Migrant workers: Refers to Indian citizens working in foreign countries, who are the subject of the policy.
Telangana State: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of data and issues faced by migrant workers.
Emigration Check Required (ECR): A passport category requiring emigration clearance for certain countries, relevant to Indian workers going abroad for employment.
eMigrate portal: An online platform used by the Ministry of External Affairs for processing emigration clearances and maintaining data on Indian workers.
Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra: A support center established in key locations to provide guidance and counselling to Indian workers.
Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF): A fund used by the Embassy/Consulate to provide financial and legal assistance to Indian nationals in distress.
Ministry of External Affairs: The government ministry responsible for the policy and data related to Indian migrant workers.
MADADCPGRAMSeMigrate: A grievance redressal portal for Indian citizens, including migrant workers, to lodge complaints and seek assistance.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 3411
ANSWERED ON - 08/08/2025
DATABASE FOR INDIAN MIGRANT WORKERS
3411. SHRI RAMASAHAYAM RAGHURAM REDDY
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has a designated and periodically
updated State-wise database for Indian Migrant workers in Foreign
Countries;
(b) if so, the details thereof, gender-wise for Telangana;
(c) whether any steps have been taken by the Government to
address issues faced by migrant workers from Telangana, if so, the
details thereof; and
(d) the details of grievance redressal mechanisms available for
these migrant workers and its operational mechanism?
1ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) & (b) Ministry maintains data in respect of Indian workers,
holding Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports, proceeding for
employment to any of the 18 notified ECR category countries,
through e-Migrate portal. State-wise data on the number of
Emigration Clearances (ECs) granted in the last five years (January
2020 to June 2025) is given in Annexure-I. Gender-wise data of ECs
issued in respect of Telangana State is given in Annexure - II.
(c)&(d) The Government of India accords highest priority to the
safety, protection and wellbeing of Indian workers abroad, including
those from Telangana. 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 for handling
such matters. Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra has 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.
2On receipt of any complaint or grievance from Indian nationals
including labourers, the Embassy/Consulate pro-actively takes it up
with the concerned Foreign Employer (FE) and, if needed, the work
place of the aggrieved worker is also visited. The issues are also
taken up with the local Labour Department and other concerned
authorities of the host country for redressal.
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 prompt redressal.
Further, 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 Gulf
and other notified ECR Countries through the e-Migrate Portal.
3Moreover, 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 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.
4ANNEXURE-I
Total No. of ECs granted during the last five years(01/01/2020 to 30/06/3035) - State-wise
State 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Total
ANDAMAN &
NICOBAR 2 11 5 25 1 44
ANDHRA
PRADESH 3,882 5,482 19,347 16,387 16,615 9,604 71,317
ARUNACHAL
PRADESH 1 3 4 6 5 19
ASSAM 566 395 3,594 3,451 3,095 1,814 12,915
BIHAR 13,911 24,527 60,945 67,548 72,523 44,750 284,204
CHANDIGARH 30 45 346 252 197 83 953
CHHATTISGARH 33 24 126 113 140 71 507
DADRA &
NAGAR HAVELI 2 3 7 2 1 15
DAMAN & DIU 11 9 16 31 19 20 106
DELHI 388 508 1,569 1,575 1,505 945 6,490
5GOA 105 262 622 420 374 218 2,001
GUJARAT 1,494 1,583 3,438 3,825 4,212 2,414 16,966
HARYANA 314 459 1,232 1,326 1,354 904 5,589
HIMACHAL
PRADESH 115 145 414 437 389 200 1,700
JAMMU &
KASHMIR 1,095 992 4,868 5,264 4,322 2,411 18,952
JHARKHAND 831 1,481 4,322 4,326 4,760 2,824 18,544
KARNATAKA 1,476 2,143 5,700 6,209 5,811 3,361 24,700
KERALA 8,487 10,560 16,253 18,469 16,653 7,300 77,722
LADAKH 1 3 2 6
LAKSHADWEEP 2 3 1 4 10
MADHYA
PRADESH 220 232 1,367 1,335 1,136 658 4,948
MAHARASHTRA 2,592 2,828 6,846 7,559 6,365 3,590 29,780
MANIPUR 4 9 13 24 63 29 142
MEGHALAYA 3 3 11 11 7 5 40
6MIZORAM 2 1 3
NAGALAND 1 4 2 3 5 2 17
ODISHA 2,199 4,179 6,726 6,691 5,952 2,543 28,290
PUDUCHERRY 75 123 318 386 326 140 1,368
PUNJAB 3,317 5,983 10,654 11,505 12,575 8,609 52,643
RAJASTHAN 6,126 11,345 28,819 24,441 26,050 15,003 111,784
SIKKIM 1 4 5 5 6 21
TAMIL NADU 6,476 8,830 23,556 27,010 21,219 9,528 96,619
TELANGANA 2,984 4,375 11,990 10,372 9,850 5,642 45,213
TRIPURA 248 145 1,197 1,401 1,139 693 4,823
UTTAR
PRADESH 28,911 35,222 123,697 142,547 138,266 81,030 549,673
UTTARAKHAND 821 864 3,627 3,744 3,239 1,566 13,861
WEST BENGAL 7,425 9,917 31,788 31,628 28,863 15,358 124,979
Total 94,145 1,32,675 3,73,426 3,98,317 3,87,067 2,21,334 16,06,964
7Annexure-II
Total No. of ECs granted for Telangana Gender-wise for the period 01/01/2020
to 30/06/2025
Year Gender EC Count
2020 Female 71
Male 2913
2021 Female 120
Male 4255
2022 Female 200
Male 11790
2023 Female 221
Male 10151
2024 Female 187
8Male 9663
2025 Female 76
Male 5566
TOTAL 45213
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