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Centre ‘Seriously Considering’ New Law For Indians Working Abroad Amid US Deportation

Centre ‘Seriously Considering’ New Law For Indians Working Abroad Amid US Deportation


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The proposed legislation, tentatively titled the “Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2024”, seeks to replace the “outdated provisions” of the Emigration Act of 1983

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar

The Centre is “seriously considering” implementing a new law to bring in a framework that will promote “safe, orderly, and regular migration for overseas employment.”

The proposed legislation, tentatively titled the “Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2024″, seeks to replace the “outdated provisions” of the Emigration Act of 1983. This was highlighted in the Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs’ fourth report, presented to the Lok Sabha on Monday.

The development comes at a time when the US deported around 100 illegal immigrants back to India on a military plane as a part of its crackdown on illegal immigration.

The report, chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, states, “Considering the evolving global migration dynamics and the needs of Indian citizens, the Committee has repeatedly emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of the Emigration Act 1983. After significant delays, the Ministry is now seriously considering the enactment of a new law, tentatively named the Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2024.”

It further adds: “The Ministry has informed the Committee that the proposed draft is currently under consultation with relevant Ministries and will soon be open for public feedback. The Committee stresses the importance of being consulted on the key aspects of the Bill and urges that the revision of the act, reflecting the changing global migration realities, be completed within a year.”

In response to a query in the Lok Sabha on November 11 last year regarding compensation for Indian migrant workers, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh stated that approximately 15 million Indian nationals, including unskilled workers, skilled workers, and professionals, are living abroad. “The Ministry tracks data on Indian workers holding Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports, who are migrating for overseas employment through the e-Migrate portal to any of the 18 notified ECR category countries,” he said.

The report also notes that, in recent years, India’s global standing has seen considerable improvement, with advances in economic, scientific, and technological sectors. “There is growing global interest in engaging with India, leading to expanded diplomatic outreach, India taking the lead in regional groupings, increased high-level exchanges, bilateral agreements, and the signing of MOUs. Additionally, India has spearheaded initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Coalition on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI),” the report states.

The government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has fostered an environment conducive to India’s growth and development through partnerships with friendly nations over the past decade.

News india Centre ‘Seriously Considering’ New Law For Indians Working Abroad Amid US Deportation



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