(a) the number of Indian artisans who were living illegally
in Kuwait and U.A.E. sent back;
(b) the number of artisans still living there; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to check the illegal
migration of Indian artisans to these countries?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT ( SHRI MUNI LALL )
(a) & (b): According to the information received from the
Indian Missions, approximately 2.80 lakh and 8.00 lakh Indian
workers were working in Kuwait and UAE respectively. While no
separate record of the Indian artisans in these countries is
kept, majority of these workers belong to the un-skilled or
semi-skilled category and had migrated to these countries for
contractual employment on the basis of valid documents. It is
not known how many of them are living illegally. However, the
Indian Embassy in Kuwait had issued 1364 Emergency Travel
Documents during the last two years and the Embassy of India in
UAE had issued 228 Emergency Certificates during the last three
years to the Indian nationals to facilitate their travel back to
India. Some of the persons, to whom these emergency certificates
were issued, were staying in these two countries illegally.
(c): The steps taken/being taken to prevent illegal emigration
of Indian workers include scrutiny of the travel documents
including the employment contracts by the Protectors of
Emigrants, before grant of emigration clearance, and further
scrutiny of these documents by the immigration authorities at the
airports with the help of ultra violet lamp, magnifying glass and
questionable document examiner.
State Governments have also been requested to issue
instructions right up to the police station level to keep a
strict vigil on the activities of the unauthorised agents.