**Policy Summary: Skilled Workforce for Russian Companies**
In response to a parliamentary inquiry regarding the potential recruitment of ten lakh skilled workers by Russian companies from India, particularly for the Sverdlovsk region, the Ministry of Labour and Employment clarified the following:
1. **Information Absence:** The government lacks information regarding any specific demand from Russian companies for ten lakh skilled workers from India.
2. **Memorandum of Understanding (MoU):** No MoU has been signed between the Indian government and Russia concerning the structured supply of Indian workforce.
3. **Safe and Legal Mobility:** The Ministry of External Affairs is actively working to foster a conducive environment for safe and legal migration to partner countries, including Russia.
4. **Worker Protection Measures:** The government has implemented several initiatives to safeguard Indian migrant workers' interests, including:
* **Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojna (PBBY):** Insurance scheme for overseas Indian workers.
* **Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT):** Training program to prepare workers for international employment.
These initiatives aim to ensure decent working and living conditions, awareness of rights, and access to welfare schemes.
5. **Grievance Redressal Mechanisms:** Indian workers can contact the Embassy/Consulate for assistance via walk-in, email, multilingual 24x7 emergency numbers, WhatsApp, grievance redressal portals like MADAD/CPGRAMS/eMigrate, and social media.
6. **Consular Assistance:** Upon receiving complaints, the Embassy/Consulate investigates with the Foreign Employer (FE) and may visit the worker's workplace. Issues are also raised with local Labour Departments and relevant authorities.
7. **Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF):** The ICWF provides financial and legal assistance to distressed Indian nationals, including support for boarding, lodging, air passage, legal aid, emergency medical care, transportation of mortal remains, and payment of small fines. Assistance is provided on a means-tested basis.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Labour and Employment: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for labour and employment policies.
Russia: A partner destination country for Indian workforce.
Sverdlovsk region: A region in Russia mentioned as having a shortage of skilled labor.
Sushri Shobha Karandlaje: Minister of State for Labour and Employment.
Ministry of External Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for foreign affairs.
Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojna PBBY: An insurance scheme for Indian migrant workers.
PreDeparture Orientation Training PDOT: A training program for Indian migrant workers before they leave for overseas employment.
Indian Community Welfare Fund ICWF: A fund used by Indian embassies and consulates to provide assistance to Indian nationals in distress.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3559
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025
SKILLED WORKFORCE FOR RUSSIAN COMPANIES
3559. SHRI RAJA A:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to
state:
(a)whether the Government is aware that Russian companies wanted
to take ten lakh skilled workforce from India due to shortage of skill
labour in Russia, especially in Sverdlovsk region;
(b)if so, the response of the Government thereto;
(c)whether any Memorandum of Understanding signed by the
Government for the supply of workforce from India in a structured
manner, if so, the details thereof; and
(d)whether the Government would ensure that Indian workforce is not
exploited and given all protection and welfare measures available
under the labour laws and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (d): There is no information that Russian companies wanted to
take ten lakh skilled workforce from India due to shortage of skilled
labour in Russia especially in Sverdlovsk region. The Government of
India has not signed any Memorandum of Understanding for the
supply of workforce from India to Russia.
The Ministry of External Affairs has been making
concerted efforts to create a conducive environment for promoting
safe and legal mobility to partner destination countries like Russia.
The Government has taken several initiatives such as
Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojna (PBBY) and Pre-Departure Orientation &
Training (PDOT) 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.
Contd..2/-:: 2 ::
There are established channels to enable them to reach
out to the Embassy/Consulate in case they need any assistance. The
Embassy/Consulate can be contacted through walk-in, email,
multilingual 24x7 emergency numbers, Whatsapp number, grievance
redressal portal like MADAD/CPGAMS/eMigrate, and social media etc.
On receipt of any complaint or grievance from Indian
workers, 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.
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