Rising Death Toll of Indian Workers Abroad Raises Concerns
Recent government data reveals a troubling trend regarding Indian workers abroad, with thousands of deaths reported, particularly in Gulf nations. Between 2021 and 2025, over 37,000 fatalities were recorded, averaging more than 20 deaths daily. The year 2021 saw the highest toll, while complaints of abuse and exploitation have surged, with nearly 81,000 grievances filed with Indian embassies. This article delves into the statistics and implications of these findings, raising critical questions about the safety and treatment of Indian laborers overseas.
| Apr 2, 2026, 16:00 IST
Challenging Conditions for Indian Workers Overseas
Recent statistics released by the government have once again highlighted the dire situations faced by Indian workers employed abroad. Data shared in Parliament indicates that thousands of Indians have lost their lives while working overseas in recent years, with a significant number of these fatalities occurring in Gulf countries. In a written response provided in the Rajya Sabha on January 29, Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, revealed that between 2021 and 2025, 37,740 Indian citizens died abroad. This translates to an average of over 20 workers per day losing their lives during this five-year span. However, the government has not provided detailed information regarding the causes of these deaths.
Highest Deaths Recorded in 2021
2021 में सबसे अधिक मौतें दर्ज की गईं
According to the data, the year 2021 saw the highest number of deaths, with 8,234 fatalities recorded. Although this figure decreased to 6,614 in 2022, it has since shown a consistent upward trend. The death toll rose to 7,291 in 2023, 7,747 in 2024, and reached 7,854 in 2025. A significant majority of these deaths occurred in Gulf countries, accounting for over 86% of the total fatalities. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia reported the highest death tolls over the five years, with 12,380 and 11,757 deaths, respectively. Other countries also reported notable fatalities, including Kuwait (3,890), Oman (2,821), Malaysia (1,915), and Qatar (1,760). This situation reflects a broader trend observed in previous years. An analysis based on RTI data and parliamentary records from 2018 indicated that approximately 10 Indian workers died daily in the Gulf region between 2012 and mid-2018. In contrast, recent figures suggest that the situation has worsened, with nearly 18 deaths recorded daily in Gulf countries alone from 2021 to 2025.
Increase in Complaints of Abuse and Exploitation
दुर्व्यवहार और शोषण की शिकायतों में वृद्धि
Alongside the rising death toll, there has also been a significant increase in complaints from Indian workers abroad. During this five-year period, Indian embassies received 80,985 complaints regarding abuse, exploitation, and workplace issues. The highest number of complaints came from the United Arab Emirates (16,965), followed by Kuwait (15,234), Oman (13,295), and Saudi Arabia (12,988). Outside the Gulf countries, Malaysia and the Maldives also reported a substantial number of complaints, with 8,333 and 2,981 cases, respectively. Interestingly, while some Southeast Asian countries recorded relatively low fatalities, the number of complaints remained high. Myanmar reported no deaths but had 2,548 complaints, with a significant increase noted in 2025. Cambodia and Laos also saw thousands of complaints despite limited fatalities. The number of complaints has consistently risen, peaking at 22,479 in 2025, a significant increase from 16,263 in 2024 and nearly double the 11,632 complaints recorded in 2021.