**Executive Summary:**
This document is the Indian Ministry of External Affairs' response to a parliamentary question regarding the repatriation and welfare of Indian workers stranded in Saudi Arabia due to unpaid wages or loss of legal status. It details the assistance provided by the Indian Embassy and Consulates, including food, shelter, medical aid, and legal assistance. The response also outlines long-term steps to prevent similar incidents, such as stricter regulation of recruiting agents, compulsory insurance, and enhanced pre-departure orientation for workers.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Assistance to Stranded Workers:**
* The Indian Embassy/Consulate in Saudi Arabia addresses complaints from workers regarding unpaid wages, passport confiscation, loss of legal status, and exit permit issues.
* Workers can reach the Embassy/Consulate through various channels, including walk-ins, email, emergency numbers, WhatsApp, grievance portals (MADAD-CPGRAMS-eMigrate), and social media.
* Dedicated Labour Wings and Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra provide guidance and counselling.
* Consular Camps are organized in remote areas.
* **Proactive Measures by Embassy/Consulate:**
* The Embassy/Consulate takes up grievances with Foreign Employers (FE) and visits workplaces if needed.
* Issues are raised with the local Labour Department and other concerned authorities.
* The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) provides financial and legal assistance on a means-tested basis, covering boarding, lodging, air passage, legal aid, medical care, transportation of remains, and fines.
* **Long-Term Preventive Steps:**
* Initiatives like Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) and Pre-departure Orientation Training (PDOT) aim to ensure safe migration, decent working conditions, awareness of rights, and access to welfare schemes.
* PBBY is a mandatory insurance scheme for Emigration Check Required (ECR) passport holders, providing INR 10 lakh cover for accidental death or permanent disability leading to job loss, at a premium of INR 275 (2 years) or INR 375 (3 years).
**Impact Analysis**
* **Indian Workers in Saudi Arabia:**
* *Impact:* Provides access to immediate relief measures, legal assistance, and a grievance redressal system through the Indian Embassy/Consulate in case of issues like unpaid wages or loss of legal status. Offers long-term protection through insurance schemes (PBBY) and pre-departure training (PDOT).
* *Action Required:* Utilize available channels (helplines, portals, etc.) to report grievances to the Indian Embassy/Consulate. ECR passport holders must enroll in PBBY. Participate in PDOT before departure.
* **Indian Embassy/Consulate in Saudi Arabia:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for addressing grievances, providing assistance, and proactively engaging with Foreign Employers and local authorities. Manages the ICWF to provide financial and legal support.
* *Action Required:* Maintain accessible communication channels for workers, respond promptly to complaints, utilize ICWF effectively, and conduct regular Consular Camps.
* **Recruiting Agents:**
* *Impact:* Subject to stricter regulation to prevent exploitation and ensure fair treatment of Indian workers.
* *Action Required:* Adhere to all regulations, provide accurate information to workers, and ensure fair recruitment practices.
* **Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs):**
* *Impact:* Oversees the welfare of Indian workers abroad, manages the ICWF, and implements initiatives like PBBY and PDOT.
* *Action Required:* Continue to strengthen support systems, monitor the effectiveness of welfare schemes, and enhance pre-departure orientation programs.
Key Entities Referenced
Saudi Arabia: A country in Western Asia, a major destination for Indian migrant workers, and the location where many Indian laborers are facing issues related to unpaid wages and loss of legal status.
SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA: Member of Parliament who raised the question in Lok Sabha regarding the welfare of Indian workers stranded in Saudi Arabia.
SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH: The Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question regarding Indian workers in Saudi Arabia.
Indian EmbassyConsulate in Saudi Arabia: The Indian diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia responsible for addressing the grievances of Indian workers and providing assistance.
MADADCPGAMSeMigrate: A grievance redressal portal used by Indian workers to contact the Indian Embassy/Consulate for assistance.
Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra: Guidance and counselling centers set up in Riyadh and Jeddah to assist Indian workers.
Indian Community Welfare Fund ICWF: A fund utilized by the Indian Embassy/Consulate to provide financial and legal assistance to Indian nationals in distress.
Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana PBBY: A mandatory insurance scheme aimed at safeguarding the interests of Indian migrant workers holding Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 2193
ANSWERED ON – 01/08/2025
REPATRIATION AND WELFARE OF INDIAN WORKERS STRANDED IN
SAUDI ARABIA
2193. SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of Indian labourers currently
stranded in Saudi Arabia due to unpaid wages or loss of legal status,
if so, the details of estimated number of such workers, State-wise
and sector-wise;
(b) the immediate relief measures, food, shelter, medical aid and
legal assistance, extended by the Indian Embassy and Consulates
and the timeline fixed for clearing unpaid dues and securing exit
permits;
(c) the arrangements made for emergency travel documents and
cost-sharing with Saudi employers to expedite repatriation and the
progress achieved to date; and
1(d) the long-term steps being taken to curb similar incidents,
including stricter regulation of recruiting agents, compulsory
insurance and enhanced pre-departure orientation for workers
bound for Saudi Arabia?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (c) The Indian Embassy/Consulate in Saudi Arabia, from time to
time, receive complaints from Indian workers facing issues related
to non-payment of wages, confiscation of passports, loss of legal
status due to non-issuance/renewal of residence card, exit permits
not processed by the sponsor/employer, etc.
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/CPGAMS/eMigrate, and social media etc. There
are dedicated Labour Wings for handling such matters. Pravasi
2Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra has been set up in Riyadh and Jeddah to
provide guidance and counselling to the Indian workers. The
Embassy/Consulate also organises Consular Camps in remote areas.
On 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
authority of the host country for redressal.
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.
(d) The Government has taken several initiatives like the Pravasi
Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) and Pre-departure Orientation
3Training (P-DOT) in ensuring that Indian migrant workers undertake
safe migration, have decent working and living conditions in
destination countries, are aware of their rights and have access to
various welfare schemes of the Government.
PBBY is a mandatory insurance scheme aimed at safeguarding the
interests of Indian migrant workers holding Emigration Check
Required (ECR) passports, going for employment to ECR countries.
The scheme provides an insurance cover of INR. 10 lakh and other
benefits in case of accidental death or permanent disability leading
to job loss, at a nominal insurance premium of INR 275/- for two
years or INR 375/- for three years validity.
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