Ministry of External Affairs Government of India

LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.383
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2018

DEATH OF WORKERS

383. SHRI MALYADRI SRIRAM:
SHRI DHARAM VIRA:


Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state:

(a) whether an alarming number of Indian workers die in Gulf countries and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government is maintaining a publically available data of such deaths and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) the measures taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to prevent workers’ death in Gulf countries and address such incidents with authorities in those countries; and

(d) whether the Government is planning to do an investigation/study to find the causes of such unusual deaths of Indian workers and if so, the details in this regard?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) As per the information available with the Ministry, the number of Indian nationals who died in the Gulf countries of United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia between 2014 and 2018 is 28523. Details may be seen at Annexure.

(b) Indian Missions abroad maintain information in respect of death of Indian nationals in their jurisdiction, but not specifically of workers.

(c) & (d) In order to prevent workers’ death such as suicides, road accidents etc in Gulf countries, awareness campaigns are conducted by the Missions/Posts through labour camps organized by Pravasi Bharatiya Seva Kendra in collaboration with the Indian Missions/Posts. Indian officials work proactively to alleviate and resolve the difficulties being faced by Indian workers such as excessive working hours, inadequacy of medical facilities, excessive exposure to heat & sun-stroke etc. Anyone having any difficulty can approach Community Welfare Wing in getting his problems addressed promptly.

Consular Officers posted in Indian Missions/Posts abroad are tasked with addressing the difficulties of distressed Indians, including Indian workers, in various countries abroad. In Gulf countries where there are large numbers of Indian workers, our Missions and Posts have specialized Community Welfare Wings and Labour Wings. In addition, the Government has launched an online portal called ‘MADAD’ for addressing the grievances of Indian nationals abroad. The MADAD Portal is regularly monitored in our Missions/Posts at various levels, thus giving high priority to grievances of Indian workers.

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