Question : Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana

(a) whether the Government has launched Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana to help the Indians aspiring for jobs in foreign countries and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the migrating Indian labourers particularly those who are sent to the Gulf countries through agents are subjected to exploitation because of the lack of requisite skills;

(c) if so, whether most of the Indian citizens migrating to Gulf countries are not properly equipped with the customs, language and culture of those countries or are not well versed with the required skills for getting jobs; and

(d) if so, the steps taken by the Government to mitigate the problems of Indian Citizens?

(a) Yes. The Government has launched the Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PKVY) a skill development scheme of the Ministry of External Affairs that aims at enhancing the skills set of potential emigrant workers in select sectors and job roles, in line with international standards, to facilitate overseas employment opportunities, but not for placement assistance. The Scheme is part of the Government’s effort towards strengthening the eco system that supports migrant workers in all stages of migration cycle and to ensure that Indian workers should migrate safely with an enhanced skill sets. Our message is loud and clear: "Surakshit Jaaye, Prasikshit Jaaye". Upskilling of migrant workers offers them a distinct advantage. It assists the worker in moving high up in the wage chain. Secondly, a well-informed worker is in better position to safeguard his/her rights.

The scheme includes a technical top up training component as well as module on enhancing soft skills for the participants through Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDoT). Towards this end, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship on 2nd July 2016 for implementation of the scheme.

(b) An overwhelming majority of Indian emigrant workers leaving for ECR countries primarily go to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia.


There are reports of harassment of the migrant workers by unscrupulous agents and employers in the Gulf countries. The Government has taken additional measures to safeguard the interests of Indian workers migrating to ECR countries. As per extant guidelines, the minimum age of ECR category female workers proceeding for overseas employment to ECR countries is 30 years. In case of Foreign Employer, attestation of work contract by the Indian Mission in the destination country and submission of a bank guarantee of US $ 2500 is mandatory before the emigration clearance is granted by the Office of Protector of Emigrants.

(c) A majority of Indian migrant workers are generally not well versed with the customs, language and culture of those countries and the required skills. These are also the most vulnerable segment of Indian Diaspora and they face considerable difficulties in the destination countries.

(d) The Government of India has taken many steps in this regard. Pre-departure Orientation Training (PDoT) and Skills Upgradation through the Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PKVY) are the major steps in this direction. The orientation is extremely useful to sensitize the prospective emigrants about the overseas employment, customs, language, culture, living conditions, their rights and responsibilities in the destination country. In addition, these are supported by institutional mechanisms like State Consultation Meetings and Bilateral Agreements with Foreign Governments on labour and manpower cooperation issues.