12 lakh gets online emigration clearance since Sept 2014
Govt admits there is no slowdown in Indian workers going for overseas employment
July 20: Nearly 12 lakh people have got emigration clearance online since introduction of e-migration system in September 2014 and the data of emigration clearances to Gulf countries does not suggest any slowdown in Indian workers going overseas for employment, the government has told the Rajya Sabha.
Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh gave this information to the Upper House, casting aside doubts and fears that introduction of e-migration system for emigration clearance may be hindering with the migration process leading to a drastic fall in the migrant workers going to the Gulf and other Middle East countries.
The Minister was responding to a query by Rajya Sabha’s Congress MP Ashk Ali Tak from Rajasthan.
Tak had asked if it was a fact that due to “the alleged complexities and excessive formalities involved in the ‘e-migration system’ currently in practice, the companies/employees of Gulf countries have started giving preference to personnel from other neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sudan, Egypt over Indian workers.”
Allaying Tak’s doubt, Gen (Retd) Singh told the House that a total of 11,99,378 emigration clearances have been granted online till May 4, 2016 via e-migration system after it was introduced on September 25, 2014.
Maintaining that the e-migrate system was made operational to facilitate emigration of Emigration Check Required (ECR) category of emigrants going to 18 notified countries for overseas employment, Singh said the system was fully meeting its envisaged aim of facilitating the emigration process.
“The data of Emigration Clearances to Gulf countries does not suggest that there is any slowdown in Indian workers going for Overseas Employment,” said Singh.
The minister also told the house since June 2015 till May 2016, a total of 52,769 Foreign Employers (FEs) have also registered on the eMigrate system for conducting recruitment of Indian workers.
The Minister further sought to assure the House that the government was not complacent in improving the system as per the feedback received from its users on whatever difficulties they face in operating the system.
“To address the difficulties expressed by Association of Recruiting Agents, the e-migrate system has been further simplified and constant technical support is provided to various users of e-migrate through a 24x7 dedicated helpdesk,” he said.