**Executive Summary**
This document addresses Unstarred Question No. 1188 regarding the exploitation of Indian workers abroad, answered on 06/02/2026. It details the Government of India's awareness, actions, and proposals to safeguard the rights and dignity of Indian citizens abroad. Annexure-A provides data on complaints received by Indian Missions abroad from 2023-2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Government Awareness & Priority:**
* The Government is aware of increasing incidents of exploitation, detention, wage denial, and racial discrimination against Indian workers and students abroad, particularly in Gulf and Western nations.
* The Government accords highest priority to the safety, protection, and wellbeing of Indian workers and students abroad.
* **Complaint Redressal & Assistance Channels:**
* Established channels for assistance include Embassy/Consulate contact via walk-in, email, multilingual 24x7 emergency numbers, WhatsApp, MADAD/CPGRAMS/eMigrate portal, and social media.
* Dedicated Labour Wings are in place where there is a sizeable number of Indian migrant workers.
* Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendras (PBSKs) are set up in key locations (New Delhi, Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur) for guidance and counseling.
* Kshetriya Pravasi Sahayata Kendras (KPSKs) are set up in Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow, Patna, and Chandigarh.
* Open Houses and Consular Camps are organized in remote areas to address grievances.
* Embassies/Consulates proactively address complaints with foreign employers and local authorities.
* **Safeguards for Female Workers:**
* Only State-run Recruiting Agencies (RAs) are authorized to recruit Indian female workers with ECR category passports for overseas employment in 19 ECR countries via the e-Migrate Portal.
* Minimum age criteria of 30 years for female workers holding ECR category passports.
* **Support for Students:**
* Indian Missions/Posts encourage students to reach out before departure and upon arrival for understanding local legal frameworks and support systems.
* Regular contact is maintained with Indian students in universities, with briefings on challenges and threats.
* Heads of Missions/Posts visit foreign universities to interact with Indian students.
* **Consular Assistance & Welfare:**
* Missions/Posts provide consular assistance including emergency medical care and boarding/lodging.
* The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) assists overseas Indian nationals in distress.
* **Agreements & Frameworks:**
* A robust institutional framework promotes safe and legal migration.
* MOUs/Agreements like MMPAs, Labour Mobility, and Labour Welfare Agreements are signed to protect migrant workers.
* Labor and Manpower Cooperation MOUs/Agreements exist with GCC countries and Jordan.
* Agreements on Labor Cooperation for Domestic Sector Workers (DSWs) are signed with Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait.
* Specific Labour Mobility Partnership Agreements/MOU/MOC have been signed with Denmark, Japan, Portugal, Mauritius, Israel, Taiwan, Malaysia and Russia.
* Migration and Mobility Partnership agreements to facilitate mobility of students, academics, business people, and professionals have been signed with France, UK, Germany, Australia, Austria, Italy and Denmark.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder**: Indian Workers and Students Abroad
**Impact**: Increased awareness of available support and protection measures against exploitation, detention, wage denial, and racial discrimination. Access to established channels for assistance.
**Action Required**: Engage with Indian Missions/Posts before departure and upon arrival in foreign countries. Utilize available resources and channels (emergency numbers, WhatsApp, portals) when needed.
**Stakeholder**: Indian Missions/Posts
**Impact**: Increased responsibility in providing assistance and redressal to complaints from Indian citizens abroad. Need to actively monitor and address issues faced by workers and students.
**Action Required**: Proactively engage with Indian workers and students, organize outreach programs, and ensure timely response to complaints and grievances.
**Stakeholder**: Recruiting Agencies (RAs)
**Impact**: Restricted to state-run agencies for recruiting female ECR category workers for overseas employment in specified countries.
**Action Required**: Adhere to government regulations and use the e-Migrate Portal for recruitment purposes.
**Stakeholder**: Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs)
**Impact**: Enhanced ability to protect and safeguard the interests of Indian workers and students abroad.
**Action Required**: Continue strengthening bilateral agreements, monitoring complaints, and improving support mechanisms.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of External Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for the country's foreign policy and diplomatic relations.
Indian Missions abroad: Embassies and Consulates representing India in foreign countries, responsible for consular services and assistance to Indian nationals.
Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF): A fund set up in Indian Missions/Posts abroad to assist overseas Indian nationals, including workers and students, in distress.
Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements (MMPAs): Agreements between India and other countries to facilitate the safe and legal migration of workers and students.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): A regional intergovernmental political and economic union consisting of all Arab states of the Persian Gulf - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Referenced in the context of labour agreements and protection of domestic workers.