20+ Indian workers died abroad daily in last 5 years, mostly in these countries

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh has informed Parliament that over 20 Indian workers died abroad daily in the last five years.

Singh, while giving this disturbing data through a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, revealed that most of these deaths happened in the Gulf countries. According to the Ministry, 37,740 Indian workers died during the period of 2021 to 2025.

According to the data shared by Ministry, the highest number of deaths were recorded in 2021 when 8,234 Indian workers died abroad. In 2022, 6,614 died on foreign soil and thereafter for the next three years — 2023, 2024 and 2025 — there has been a rise in the numbers, with 7,291, 7,747 and 7,854 Indian workers losing their lives abroad, respectively.

The Ministry also shared country-wise data showing how many deaths occurred in which region. About 86 per cent of the total fatalities happened in the Gulf countries. Most of these deaths happened in the UAE, followed with Saudi Arabia, 12,380 and 11,757, respectively. Kuwait, Oman, Malaysia and Qatar reported 3,890, 2,821, 1,915 and 1,760 deaths of Indian workers on their soil, respectively.

An analysis of records from 2012 to mid-2018 by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), shows that nearly 10 Indian workers died every day in the Gulf region. This is based on data accessed through the Right to Information (RTI) responses and parliamentary records.

According to the 2018 report based on the CHRI analyses, at least 24,570 Indian workers died across six the Gulf nations, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE during that six-and-a-half-year period (2012 to mid-2018). In the last five years, Ministry data shows that 32,608 Indian workers died in the Gulf nations, excluding Bahrain (figures absent in the reply). This also means that on an average 18 Indian workers died in the Gulf region alone during 2021-2025.

The Ministry also shed light on the complaints received by Indian missions overseas during this period. The number of total complaints of abuse, exploitation, and workplace grievances of Indian nationals stands at 80,985. On this parameter too, the UAE is on the top with 16,965 complaints registered between 2021 and 2025. Kuwait (15,234), Oman (13,295), and Saudi Arabia (12,988) were next.

When we look at the numbers from outside the Gulf region, Malaysia and the Maldives registered 8,333 and 2,981 complaints, respectively.

From Southeast Asian countries, complaints increased sharply in 2024-25, but only a few casualties have been reported. Myanmar, despite having zero casualties, registered a sharp rise in the number of complaints in 2025. Total complaints registered were 2,548, with 1,863 out of those from 2025 alone. Cambodia and Laos reported 31 deaths against 2,531 complaints and 11 deaths against 2,416 complaints, respectively.

It is to be noted that labour issues have grown significantly over the past five years. These reports peaked in 2025 with 22,479 complaints, up from 16,263 in 2024. When compared with 2021, when 11,632 incidences of labour issues were reported, the numbers have doubled since then. Delay or non-payment of salaries and end-of-service benefits are the most common difficulties faced by Indian labourers abroad.

The Minister in his reply said that safety and well-being of Indian nationals abroad remain an utmost priority for the government.

Upon receiving reports of an Indian national in distress, Indian missions and embassies coordinate with the host country’s Foreign Affairs Ministries, labour departments, and law enforcement agencies, the Minister said.

They also provide consular support and legal assistance, while the Government of India has also signed broad memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on labour and manpower cooperation with several countries to protect the rights and interests of Indian workers abroad.

(With inputs from PTI)