Indians taking up UAE jobs must register online
We have seen that not all blue-collar workers are in the ECR category. Some have higher educational qualifications but don’t get included in the e-Migrate system.” Navdeep Singh Suri, Indian
Ambassador to the UAE
abu dhabi — All Indians travelling to the UAE for employment will have to register online at the government’s e-Migrate portal from next year, according to a notice issued by the Ministry of External Affairs in India.
The government of India has listed 18 countries including the UAE, where registration is mandatory for non-ECR passport holders who are travelling on employment visa. Indian citizens will have to complete the registration at www.emigrate.gov.in. 24 hours prior to their departure.
The new rule is to provide protection and welfare to the Indian emigrants abroad, said the ministry in the notice.
“The said registration on NonECR passport holders will be mandatory and required to be completed at least 24 hours prior to the actual departure,” read the notice.
Starting 01.01.2019, no Indian emigrant holding non-ECR passport would be allowed to go to these 18 countries for employment without prior registration in e-Migrate, as a measure of extending protection and ensuring their welfare overseas.
“Off-loading of unregistered non-ECR emigrants at the airports would be effected by the appropriate authority after January 1, 2019,” it said.
Navdeep Singh Suri, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, said: “This is an additional measure by the government to provide protection to Indian nationals seeking employment in the UAE. We have seen that not all blue-collar workers are in the ECR category. Some have higher educational qualifications but don’t get included in the e-Migrate system. This amendment will help them.”
Vipul, Consul-General of India to Dubai, said: “The new rule is for safeguarding the interest of Indian workers abroad. Even beyond the ECR, there are several vulnerable workers, and it becomes important for the government of India to protect their interests.”
Afghanistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Thailand, the UAE and Yemen are the 18 countries
listed by India.
Launched in 2015, e-Migrate is an online registration system for foreign employers to recruit Indian workers. Indian citizens with ECR stamp on their passports have to get their job offers cleared through the e-Migrate system.
Up until early 2018, a total of 40,000 foreign companies have registered with the system. In 2017 alone, more than 200,000 workers have come to the UAE through e-Migrate, according to the Indian embassy.
With the new rule, the government is offering similar protection to non-ECR category too.
To register, visit the website and key in the details at the link “ECNR registration”, and follow the steps to fill the registration form. On successful completion of registration, the emigrant would receive an SMS/email, the announcement said.
For clarifications, jobseekers can contact Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra (PBSK) in India on toll-free number 1800113090 or 01140503090 (charges apply) or by email at mail to: helpline@ mea.gov.in, the ministry’s advisory added.