<p>New Delhi: Over 20 individuals have died on foreign soil each day over the past five years, with most fatalities occurring in <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/gulf-countries">Gulf nations</a>, the government has informed Parliament.</p><p>According to data provided by the Ministry of External Affairs in Lok Sabha, 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. </p><p>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, said Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in his written answer in Rajya Sabha.</p>.36 Indian workers stranded in Oman rescued after Piyush Goyal's intervention.<p>Gulf countries accounted for over 86 per cent of these deaths. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/saudi-arabia">Saudi Arabia</a> 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).</p><p>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).</p><p>Outside the Gulf region, Malaysia and the Maldives also recorded a significant number of labour issues, registering 8,333 and 2,981 complaints, respectively.</p><p>Meanwhile, a significant number of complaints originated from Southeast Asian nations despite them reporting few casualties, with grievances spiking sharply in 2024 and 2025.</p><p>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.</p><p>According to the government, most complaints over delay or non-payment of salaries and end-of-service benefits.</p><p>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 were other complaints.</p>
<p>New Delhi: Over 20 individuals have died on foreign soil each day over the past five years, with most fatalities occurring in <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/gulf-countries">Gulf nations</a>, the government has informed Parliament.</p><p>According to data provided by the Ministry of External Affairs in Lok Sabha, 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. </p><p>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, said Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in his written answer in Rajya Sabha.</p>.36 Indian workers stranded in Oman rescued after Piyush Goyal's intervention.<p>Gulf countries accounted for over 86 per cent of these deaths. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/saudi-arabia">Saudi Arabia</a> 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).</p><p>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).</p><p>Outside the Gulf region, Malaysia and the Maldives also recorded a significant number of labour issues, registering 8,333 and 2,981 complaints, respectively.</p><p>Meanwhile, a significant number of complaints originated from Southeast Asian nations despite them reporting few casualties, with grievances spiking sharply in 2024 and 2025.</p><p>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.</p><p>According to the government, most complaints over delay or non-payment of salaries and end-of-service benefits.</p><p>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 were other complaints.</p>
