NEW DELHI: Over 62,000 complaints ranging from wage related issues, violation of contractual terms to adverse working conditions have been received by Government from Indians employed in Gulf and some other countries in the last four years.
The data was placed before Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar while replying to a question on complaints reported in Indian missions by Indians in the Middle East.
He said a total of 13,132 complaints were received from Indians working in Middle East and some other ECR (Emigration Check Required) countries while the figure in 2014 and 2015 was 17,801 and 16,390.
In the current year, till October the number of complaint received has been 15,381. The total number of complaints comes to 62,704 since 2013.
According to the Emigration Act, 1983, Emigration Check Required (ECR) categories of Indian passport holders need to obtain Emigration Clearance from the office of Protector of Emigrants (POE) for going to 18 countries which are mostly in Gulf region.
Replying to the question, he said no cases of specific human rights violation have been reported by the Indian Missions in Middle East countries.
“However, complaints are received from Indian emigrants in ECR countries, from time to time, regarding violation of contractual terms, adverse working conditions, wage related issues, employer related problems, medical and insurance related problems and compensation/death claims,” Akbar said. (AGENCIES)