The Ministry of External Affairs has told a Parliamentary Standing Committee that it is going to enact a new law to protect the rights of over 1.5 crore Indians working abroad.
The Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs, headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, on Monday presented its report to the House. It cited the MEA saying, "The ministry is seriously considering enacting a new law tentatively titled 'Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2024'."
The report said: "The ministry has further informed the committee that the proposed draft is under consultation with (other) ministries and will, thereafter, be put up for public consultations."
The committee said the new law should reflect changed global migration realities and should be done within a year.
The new law is aimed to replace the Emigration Act of 1983 in order to facilitate the circular mobility of those people who will be emigrating for overseas employment.
An enabling framework aimed at promoting the safe, orderly and regular migration for overseas employment is what the new law proposes to establish.
Last year in August, Minister of State in the MEA Kirti Vardhan Singh, had told the Lok Sabha in a written reply, "There are around 15 million (1.5 crore) Indian nationals working abroad, including unskilled workers, skilled workers and professionals."
The Emigration Act, 1983, provides the regulatory framework for emigration of Indian workers for contractual overseas employment and seeks to safeguard their interests and ensure their welfare. The Act makes it mandatory for registration of recruiting agents with the Protector General of Emigrants.
Agreements in various categories are being signed with India on migration and mobility. There is the first category of the Labour Manpower Agreements (LMA), which has been inked primarily with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Jordan to facilitate entry and presence of Indian manpower in these economies.
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