20 Indian Workers Die Daily Abroad, Govt Tells RS
Indian missions abroad also received 80,985 complaints related to abuse, exploitation and workplace issues.
New Delhi: More than 37,000 Indian workers died abroad between 2021 and 2025, averaging over 20 deaths a day, with the majority of fatalities reported from Gulf countries, the government informed Parliament.
Minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, said 37,740 deaths of Indian workers were recorded during the five-year period. No cause-wise breakup was provided.
The data showed 8,234 deaths in 2021, followed by 6,614 in 2022, 7,291 in 2023, 7,747 in 2024 and 7,854 in 2025, indicating a rise after an initial dip.
Gulf nations accounted for over 86 per cent of the fatalities. The United Arab Emirates reported 12,380 deaths and Saudi Arabia 11,757, followed by Kuwait (3,890), Oman (2,821), Malaysia (1,915) and Qatar (1,760). In total, 32,608 deaths were recorded in Gulf countries during the period.
Indian missions abroad also received 80,985 complaints related to abuse, exploitation and workplace issues. The highest number of grievances were reported from the UAE (16,965), followed by Kuwait (15,234), Oman (13,295) and Saudi Arabia (12,988).
Outside the Gulf, Malaysia and the Maldives reported 8,333 and 2,981 complaints, respectively. Southeast Asian countries showed a high number of grievances despite fewer fatalities, including Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.
Complaints rose from 11,632 in 2021 to 22,479 in 2025. The ministry said common issues included non-payment or delay of wages, retention of passports, denial of leave, excessive working hours without overtime, job loss due to company closures, ill-treatment and refusal to grant exit visas.
The minister said the government treats the safety and welfare of Indian workers abroad as a priority. Missions provide consular and legal assistance and engage with local authorities in host countries.
He added that India has signed labour and manpower cooperation agreements with several countries to safeguard the interests of its workers overseas.
