New Delhi, Feb 26: About 20,000 Indians have
returned home after losing their jobs overseas due to the
global economic crisis, the government said on Thursday.
Though the exact number of people who have returned is
not available, there are reports which indicate that between
16,000 to 20,000 Indians have come back here after the
economic slowdown, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vyalar
Ravi told the Rajya Sabha during Question Hour.
To a supplementary, the Minister said that the number of
incidents of overseas employers keeping passport of Indian
employees have come down by 50 per cent. But he did not
provide the period when this reduction has been witnessed.
He said the government is aware that some employers keep
the employees` visas with themselves and do not renew these in
time, rendering them illegal immigrants. The government is
holding talks with foreign countries on the issue.
The UAE has issued direction to employers not to keep the
visa of their employees, he added.
The Minister also said there is a need to make changes in
the Immigration Act, which was last amended in 1983.
On the issue of migrant workers, he said the government
has taken a number of initiatives, including signing of
bilateral agreements to protect their interests.
Asked how many Indians are in jails abroad, he said the
government does not have the figure, but it is very vigilant
and would collect the information.
Bureau Report
