In a somber revelation, it has been reported that more than 33,000 Indian workers have died in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries since 2016. The GCC countries include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Saudi Arabia recorded the highest number of fatalities with 14,229 Indian workers, followed by the UAE with 9,769, Kuwait with 3,812, Oman with 2,683, Qatar with 1,237, and Bahrain with 1,237 deaths.
The data was provided by the Indian government in response to Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3436, submitted by Member of Parliament N. Bhaskar Rao. The question sought information on the number of Indian migrant worker deaths, complaints regarding poor working conditions and mistreatment, and measures taken to address these issues.
Migrant Worker Population and Complaints
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, nearly nine million Indian workers reside in the six GCC countries, with the UAE hosting 3.4 million, followed by Saudi Arabia with 2.5 million, Kuwait with over one million, and nearly 700,000 each in Qatar and Oman. Bahrain hosts more than 300,000 Indian workers.
The working and living conditions of these migrant workers have frequently been criticized, with numerous instances of labor abuse reported. Since 2016, over 90,000 complaints have been registered by Indian workers in the GCC countries regarding mistreatment and poor working conditions. Saudi Arabia had the highest number of complaints (33,712), followed by Kuwait (21,093), Oman (13,096), Qatar (10,982), the UAE (10,586), and Bahrain (763).
Government Initiatives and Support Systems
The majority of complaints have been received through the Consular Services Management System (MADAD) portal, which addresses 23 different issues faced by Indians living abroad. These issues range from labor abuse to everyday needs. The portal has registered 70,844 grievances, out of which 63,585 have been resolved. This number also includes grievances from 22,218 Indian students abroad.
Grievances related to overseas employment in Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries can be lodged directly by emigrants, their relatives, or through the Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra (PBSK) on the e-Migrate portal. These grievances are resolved by the respective jurisdictional Protectors of Emigrants (PoEs) as per established procedures. Additionally, Indian Missions and Consulates regularly conduct Open Houses, where workers can highlight their grievances and seek redressal.
Support and Welfare Measures
24×7 helplines and toll-free numbers have been established for Indian workers seeking help. The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) is utilized by missions to assist Indian nationals in distress. The ICWF guidelines have been revised to expand the scope of welfare measures, covering areas such as assistance in distress situations, community welfare activities, and improvement in consular services.
Labor and manpower cooperation Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements are in place with the GCC countries, providing a framework to discuss and review labor-related issues comprehensively. Joint Working Group (JWG) meetings are held regularly to address various labor-related matters.
Conclusion
The high number of deaths and complaints underscores the dire working conditions faced by Indian migrant workers in the GCC countries. While the Indian government has implemented various measures to support and protect its citizens abroad, the statistics indicate a need for continued and enhanced efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of these workers.
