1 month ago
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Disturbing statistic astir the conditions of Indian workers overseas uncover that implicit 20 individuals person died connected overseas ungraded each time implicit the past 5 years, with astir fatalities occurring successful Gulf nations.
According to information provided by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh successful a written reply to the Rajya Sabha connected January 29, the full fig of Indian idiosyncratic fatalities overseas reached 37,740 betwixt 2021 and 2025. A breakdown of the origin of these deaths was not provided.
The information showed that the highest fig of deaths occurred successful 2021, with 8,234 Indian workers losing their lives abroad. Following a dip to 6,614 deaths successful 2022, casualties person risen steadily year-on-year, reaching 7,291 successful 2023, 7,747 successful 2024, and 7,854 successful 2025.
Gulf countries accounted for implicit 86% of these deaths. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia recorded the highest fig of casualties, with 12,380 and 11,757 deaths, respectively, successful the five-year period. They were followed by Kuwait (3,890), Oman (2,821), Malaysia (1,915), and Qatar (1,760). During this period, Indian missions overseas received 80,985 complaints of abuse, exploitation, and workplace grievances from Indian nationals. UAE accounted for the highest measurement of these grievances, with 16,965 complaints registered betwixt 2021 and 2025. It was followed by Kuwait (15,234), Oman (13,295), and Saudi Arabia (12,988).
A 2018 PTI report, based connected analyses of Right to Information (RTI) responses and Parliamentary records highlighted by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), showed that astir 10 Indian workers died each time successful the Gulf portion betwixt 2012 and mid-2018.
The CHRI investigation noted that astatine slightest 24,570 Indian workers died crossed six Gulf nations, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE during that six-and-a-half-year period.
In comparison, the latest authorities information shows that 32,608 Indian workers died successful Gulf nations, excluding Bahrain (figures absent successful the reply), betwixt 2021 and 2025. This translates to an mean of astir 18 idiosyncratic deaths each time successful the Gulf portion unsocial implicit the past 5 years.
Outside the Gulf region, Malaysia and the Maldives besides recorded a important fig of labour issues, registering 8,333 and 2,981 complaints, respectively.
Meanwhile, a important fig of complaints originated from Southeast Asian nations contempt them reporting fewer casualties, with grievances spiking sharply successful 2024 and 2025.
Myanmar recorded zero idiosyncratic deaths implicit the 5 years but registered 2,548 complaints, including a crisp summation to 1,863 complaints successful 2025 alone. Cambodia reported 31 deaths against 2,531 complaints, portion Laos saw 11 deaths and 2,416 complaints.
Reports of labour issues person grown steadily implicit the past 5 years, peaking successful 2025 astatine 22,479 complaints, up from 16,263 successful 2024 and astir treble the 11,632 reported successful 2021.
According to the Ministry's reply, the astir predominant difficulties faced by Indian labourers overseas see the hold oregon non-payment of salaries and end-of-service benefits.
Other communal complaints see the unauthorised retention of passports by employers, nonaccomplishment to supply leave, longer moving hours without overtime pay, and unemployment owed to the abrupt closure of companies. The Ministry besides noted instances of ill-treatment, the denial of morganatic labour rights and employers' refusal to assistance exit visas allowing workers to instrumentality to India upon declaration completion.
Detailing the steps taken to code the issue, Ms. Singh said that the information and well-being of Indian nationals overseas stay an utmost priority.
Upon receiving accusation astir an Indian nationalist successful distress, missions and posts instantly interaction section Foreign Affairs Ministries, Labour Departments, and instrumentality enforcement agencies successful the big country, the Minister said.
In summation to providing consular assistance and ineligible aid, the Government of India has signed overarching Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) connected labour and manpower practice with respective big countries to safeguard the circumstantial interests of Indian workers.
