HYDERABAD: Over 800 Indian expats died in workplace accidents between 2023 and 2025, according to MEA data. Of these, 55% occurred in Gulf countries, which recorded nearly three deaths a week on an average. The latest incident — the Qatar blast that killed 12 Indians last month — has renewed calls for scrutiny of safety lapses.According to MEA data, Saudi Arabia recorded the highest toll, with 182 deaths over the three-year period — more than one Indian worker every week — followed by UAE with 128 fatalities.A majority of suicides during the period were also reported from Gulf nations, underscoring the challenges faced by migrant workers.
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Further, to ensure women’s safety, only state-run agencies have been authorised to recruit female workers holding ECR passports to the Gulf through the e-Migrate portal, the minister said.
Telangana NRI Migrants’ Association attributed the recurring fatalities to multiple factors: inadequate use of safety equipment, poor adherence to workplace safety protocols, technical failures at industrial sites and insufficient skill and safety training.Many workers, they said, labour in temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius and return to accommodations cooled to 20 degrees Celsius, exposing their bodies to temperature swings of 20-25 degrees Celsius, which can lead to serious health complications.Most Indians in the Gulf are employed in sectors like construction, retail, warehouses and automobiles, where occupational risks are high.“At times, workers neglect their own safety by failing to wear protective gear such as helmets, boots and gloves while working in hazardous industries. In several cases, they are unaware of the risks,” said Manda Bheem Reddy, vice-chairman, Telangana NRI Cell.The high number of suicides, the migrants’ welfare association said, is often driven by cramped quarters and poor-quality food, coupled with extremely hectic work schedules. “Also, workers often go without salaries for up to three months while putting in shifts of 12 hours a day. Even when wages are paid, deductions are common, adding to their str-ess,” said B M Vinod Kumar, chairman, Telangana govt’s NRI advisory committee.Many employers allegedly evade responsibility by attributing workplace deaths to “natural causes” such as heart attacks, Vinod claimed. Only a few provide compensation through insurance coverage.According to MEA, govt accords high priority to the safety and well-being of Indians abroad and there are channels to enable them to reach out to missions.Kirti Vardhan Singh, minister of state for external affairs, said in Rajya Sabha that Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendras have been set up in locations such as New Delhi, Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah. “There are dedicated labour wings… Indian missions regularly organise open house and consular camps in remote areas to get feedback from the workers…,” she said.Further, to ensure women’s safety, only state-run agencies have been authorised to recruit female workers holding ECR passports to the Gulf through the e-Migrate portal, the minister said.
