e-Migrate Portal Facilitates Emigration Clearance for 5.2 Million Workers

e-Migrate Portal Streamlines Overseas Employment for Millions

The e-Migrate portal, developed by the Ministry of External Affairs, has played a crucial role in making the process of foreign employment transparent and accessible. It has significantly simplified the immigration procedure, particularly for Indian workers holding Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports.

Since its launch in 2014, the portal has granted official immigration clearance for safe employment in ECR countries to over 5.2 million Indian workers. This information was provided by the Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, in response to a question posed by Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala in the Rajya Sabha. He also stated that the central and state governments have entered into several bilateral agreements with foreign companies and governments since 2021.

Bilateral Agreements Aim to Secure Overseas Opportunities

The primary objective of these agreements is to provide safe and legal employment opportunities for the Indian workforce in foreign markets. These pacts are designed to ensure that Indian workers can access jobs abroad through legitimate channels, thereby protecting them from exploitation.

Key Destinations for Indian Workers Receiving Emigration Clearance

The countries where Indian workers have received the highest number of prompt emigration clearances are led by Saudi Arabia, with 759,578 workers receiving approval. Following closely is the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where 508,995 workers were cleared. Other destinations with significant clearances include Kuwait (228,206), Qatar (165,089), Oman (140,061), and Bahrain (41,327).

Protecting Workers' Rights Abroad

Regarding the challenges faced by Indian workers overseas, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar emphasized that the Government of India is continuously working to protect the interests of its citizens, safeguard their rights, and shield them from fraudulent agents. He also informed the House about Indians who were stranded abroad due to legal issues or other reasons and were repatriated with the assistance of the Indian government and its embassies.

Action Against Unregistered Agents

Dr. Jaishankar presented a list to the House detailing the number of Indians deported from various countries this year (up to March), with the highest numbers reported from the USA (414), the UK (57), and Cyprus (53). The Minister further disclosed that information on a total of 3,505 unregistered agents operating within the country has been made available on the e-Migrate portal. This initiative aims to alert citizens to potential fraud and prevent them from falling prey to such agents.