NEW DELHI, Apr 2: Disturbing statistics about the conditions of Indian workers abroad reveal that over 20 individuals have died on foreign soil each day over the past five years, with most fatalities occurring in Gulf nations.
According to data provided by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on January 29, the total number of Indian worker fatalities abroad reached 37,740 between 2021 and 2025. A breakdown of the cause of these deaths was not provided.
The data showed that the highest number of deaths occurred in 2021, with 8,234 Indian workers losing their lives abroad. Following a dip to 6,614 deaths in 2022, casualties have risen steadily year-on-year, reaching 7,291 in 2023, 7,747 in 2024, and 7,854 in 2025.
Gulf countries accounted for over 86 per cent of these deaths. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia recorded the highest number of casualties, with 12,380 and 11,757 deaths, respectively, in the five-year period. They were followed by Kuwait (3,890), Oman (2,821), Malaysia (1,915), and Qatar (1,760).
During this period, Indian missions overseas received 80,985 complaints of abuse, exploitation, and workplace grievances from Indian nationals. UAE accounted for the highest volume of these grievances, with 16,965 complaints registered between 2021 and 2025. It was followed by Kuwait (15,234), Oman (13,295), and Saudi Arabia (12,988).
A 2018 PTI report, based on analyses of Right to Information (RTI) responses and Parliamentary records highlighted by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), showed that nearly 10 Indian workers died every day in the Gulf region between 2012 and mid-2018.
The CHRI analysis noted that at least 24,570 Indian workers died across six Gulf nations, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE during that six-and-a-half-year period.
In comparison, the latest government data shows that 32,608 Indian workers died in Gulf nations, excluding Bahrain (figures absent in the reply), between 2021 and 2025. This translates to an average of nearly 18 worker deaths every day in the Gulf region alone over the last five years.
Outside the Gulf region, Malaysia and the Maldives also recorded a significant number of labour issues, registering 8,333 and 2,981 complaints, respectively.
Meanwhile, a significant number of complaints originated from Southeast Asian nations despite them reporting few casualties, with grievances spiking sharply in 2024 and 2025.
Myanmar recorded zero worker deaths over the five years but registered 2,548 complaints, including a sharp increase to 1,863 complaints in 2025 alone. Cambodia reported 31 deaths against 2,531 complaints, while Laos saw 11 deaths and 2,416 complaints.
Reports of labour issues have grown steadily over the past five years, peaking in 2025 at 22,479 complaints, up from 16,263 in 2024 and almost double the 11,632 reported in 2021.
According to the ministry’s reply, the most frequent difficulties faced by Indian labourers abroad include the delay or non-payment of salaries and end-of-service benefits.
Other common complaints include the unauthorised retention of passports by employers, failure to provide leave, longer working hours without overtime pay, and unemployment due to the sudden closure of companies. The ministry also noted instances of ill-treatment, the denial of legitimate labour rights and employers’ refusal to grant exit visas allowing workers to return to India upon contract completion.
Detailing the steps taken to address the issue, Singh said that the safety and well-being of Indian nationals abroad remain an utmost priority.
Upon receiving information about an Indian national in distress, missions and posts immediately contact local foreign affairs ministries, labour departments, and law enforcement agencies in the host country, the minister said.
In addition to providing consular assistance and legal aid, the Government of India has signed overarching Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on labour and manpower cooperation with several host countries to safeguard the specific interests of Indian workers. (PTI)
