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E-Migrate Project

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What is E-Migrate Project? UPSC CSE

E-Migrate Project

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Why in News: Agreement to provide e-migrate services through common services centres is signed by MEA (Ministry of external affairs), MEITY (Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology), and CSC (Common Service Centre) E-Governance Services India Ltd.

Summary of E-Migrate Project

The e-Migrate Project, a tripartite agreement among the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MEITY), and Common Service Centre E-Governance Services India Ltd, aims to streamline the emigration process for Indian blue-collar workers. The project supports migrants leaving for countries requiring emigration checks (ECR) by providing an integrated online platform that facilitates registration, document processing, and access to services through Common Service Centres (CSCs). The initiative is designed to address challenges faced by Indian workers abroad, including visa processing, insurance coverage, and recruitment agent certification as outlined in the Emigration Act of 1983. The project seeks to enhance the safety and efficiency of emigration and supports workers with tools for medical appointments and other services. Indian migrant workers, particularly in Gulf countries, play a crucial role in the economy, with over two million from Kerala alone. Remittances from these workers reached a record $111 billion in 2022. However, challenges persist, including exploitation, discrimination, and inadequate access to social security. Issues like the Kafala system in GCC countries and human trafficking have highlighted the need for improved protections. Also, the International conventions, such as the Migration for Employment Convention (1949) and the Convention on the Migrant Workers (1975), set standards for migrant worker rights but are not always fully implemented. To address these challenges, the e-Migrate Project focuses on enhancing support services, streamlining processes, and improving skills development. Ongoing community engagement and regular monitoring are essential for adapting policies to better support Indian migrant workers abroad.

The e-Migrate project is an initiative by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to streamline the emigration process for Indian workers, particularly blue-collar workers, by providing an online platform that connects international employers, insurance providers, and registered recruitment agencies. Its primary objective is to ensure safe and legal migration while alleviating the challenges faced by migrant workers.

The e-Migrate project provides a mandatory registration and documentation process for Indian workers traveling to ECR countries, ensuring compliance with the Emigration Act of 1983. This system protects workers from exploitation by enabling oversight by the Protector General of Emigrants and offers services like registration, document processing, and medical scheduling through Common Service Centres (CSCs).

The Emigration Act of 1983 is the primary legal framework governing the emigration of Indian workers. It mandates the registration of recruitment agents and the provision of insurance coverage. The Protector General of Emigrants, under the Ministry of External Affairs, oversees the implementation of this Act, particularly through the e-Migrate system.

The e-Migrate project addresses challenges such as exploitation, poor working conditions, and lack of legal recourse by ensuring that Indian workers are legally registered, have access to insurance, and are connected with verified employers. It also facilitates grievance redressal and promotes awareness about workers' rights.

Potential areas of improvement include addressing technical glitches, reducing processing delays, improving user interface, and ensuring greater transparency in the system. Regular monitoring and feedback mechanisms could further enhance the efficiency and user satisfaction of the e-Migrate project.

About e-Migrate project

About Common Service Centre (CSC)

Ministry: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
These are the front-end service delivery centers where, especially in rural and remotest parts of the country, citizens could get digital services.
Monitoring and Implementation of CSC: CSC e- Governance Services India Limited is a Special Purpose Vehicle (CSC SPV).
The CSCs are essential to the goal of Digital India, and aims to cater to manifold social welfare programs, financial services, educational programs, courses related to skill development, healthcare, agricultural services, and digital literacy, among others.
So far, total 30,647 Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) have also started providing CSC services in India.

Migration trend of Indian workers abroad

Historically dominant states: middle-class and upper-class states in the nation's north, west, and south have made up the majority of Indian emigrants who have left the country. Over time, the country's worker migration pattern shifted in favour of West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh in the east.
In USA and Europe: The skilled workforce is concentrated as per historical trend but GCC countries and ASEAN countries too now host large numbers of Indian skilled and semi-skilled workers. 80% of the men are skilled in MENA countries.
Gulf countries: Data from the Indian government indicates that as of 2021, 8.9 million Indian migrants were living in the Gulf countries. Over two million migrants from Kerala, a state in the South, are still living overseas, mostly in the Gulf states.

  • Six Gulf nations are home to 56% of NRIs and 25% of abroad Indians (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain).
  • Remittances: Eventually Indians workers abroad send huge remittances back home. According to the United Nations, India became the first country to receive remittances of more than $111 billion in 2022.

Laws/Regulatory framework for Indian Overseas Worker

  • The Emigration Act of India, 1983: Offers the legal framework for Indian workers to emigrate for temporary jobs abroad.
  • Recruitment agents’ registration: In order to prevent deceit, the act also required recruitment agents to register and be certified by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Protector General of Emigrants.
  • Insurance: The Indian government provides around $12,000 in insurance coverage, and certified recruiting agents are obligated to rescue workers if they encounter any problems.
  • Emigration Check Required (ECR) Program: Workers going to 18 countries, including Afghanistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Lebanon, are protected by ECR passports.
  • Registration: Employees traveling to areas of conflict must register on the "e- migrate" portal run by the Ministry of External Affairs.
  • Pravasi Bhartiya Sahayata Kendra (PBSK)
    • Toll Free Helplines: Missions have set up Toll Free Helplines and 24x7 Helplines for Indian workers to seek assistance.
    • Dedicated Labor / Community Welfare wings: They have been formed in Indian Missions and Posts in countries having a large population of Indian workers.

International Rules for migrant workers

  • The Migration for Employment Convention (Revised) 1949 (No. 97) protects migrant workers' and their families' rights over native-born workers.
  • Convention on the Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions), 1975 (No. 143): It addresses treatment of migrant workers, equality of opportunity, and migration under abusive conditions.
  • Both of these International Labor Organization-managed conventions.

Why is there an increase in Indian women working in Gulf countries?

  • Women friendly policies: The number of female workers from India has historically been very likely to increase in the Middle East and North Africa region, particularly in the hospitality and construction sectors, by more than 71% in the blue-collar workforce, due to the UAE's women-friendly regulations.
  • Presence of fellow Indians: It help them finding jobs due to Indian connections and also provide them with psychological security. 35 lakh Indian women work in the Middle East, with the figure expected to rise to 60 lakh in the next 2-3 years.
  • High earning potential abroad: The ten highest salary-paying nations in the world include Qatar and UAE; India is ranked 65th.
  • Insufficient opportunities in India: This is made clear by the fact that, according to the National Sample Survey Office, the unemployment rate for those over the age of 15 in metropolitan areas during January to March 2023 was 8.2 percent. That is far higher than the ILO's 5% requirement.
  • Lack of job opportunities for the skilled workforce of women: The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) reports that one reason for unemployment is lack of jobs according to qualifications. i.e. nurses, hospitality, tourism industry.

Challenges and vulnerability of Indian migrant workforce abroad

  • Violation of local labour laws: The respective sponsors failed to execute contractual commitments, including passport retention.
  • Discrimination: over native-born workers racially, ethnically, religiously etc.
  • Access to social security: As per the international conventions.
  • Persistent issues: Poor working conditions, violations of labour rights, a lack of effective grievance resolution processes, restricted access to a transparent court system, etc.
  • Workplace related issues: Ill treatment at work, nonpayment of salaries/wages, and other issues cause difficulty for Indian workers.
  • Data from the Centre for Indian Migrant Studies (CIMS) shows that 397 returnees during the COVID-19 pandemic were denied ₹62.58 crore in total, showing glaring pay theft.
  • Human trafficking: There have been reports of Indian engineers from Tamil Nadu being trafficked to Myanmar to work for cryptocurrency scammers, and Indian nurses being trafficked to the UAE for fake employment promises.
  • Kafala system in GCC countries: The Kafala system of sponsorship, which governs the interaction between migrant labourers and their employers, has consistently led to a substantial exploitation of the labour force.
  • Women workers exploitation: Women are particularly vulnerable to hazards to their safety, health, and well-being in areas that are prone to violence. Their vulnerabilities are made worse by the possible absence of gender-sensitive policy for workers.

Way Forward

  • Enhanced Support Services: Provide comprehensive pre-departure orientation and post-arrival support services to assist migrants in adjusting to new environments.
  • Streamlined Processes: The application process has been somewhat paperless to a great extent, making it easy and time-saving with the introduction of the eMigrate portal.
  • Skills Development: Give skills training and certification to facilitate better jobs and improvement in their profession abroad.
  • Community Engagement: The creation of community networks and culturally orienting programs to support the social and emotional needs of migrants.
  • Regular Monitoring: Institute mechanisms that can, on a regular basis, monitor and review migration trends and outcomes in order to further fine-tune policy adjustments.

Conclusion of E-Migrate Project

The eMigrate project on the emigration of Indian workers suffers from technical glitches, cumbersome processes, and lack of transparency. Though efforts are put in from time to time, there are signs of concern over processing delays, interface issues, compliance, and more. There has to be continuous improvement within the system for bringing in more efficiency and user satisfaction.

EXPECTED QUESTIONS FOR UPSC CSE - Prelims MCQs

Consider the following statements:
1. The “e-Migrate” system functions under the control of the Union Home Ministry.
2. Migration for Employment Convention (Revised) 1949 is the international convention framed by the United Nations General Assembly.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer :(d) Neither 1 nor 2

EXPECTED QUESTIONS FOR UPSC CSE - Descriptive Question

Evaluate the Challenges and vulnerability of Indian migrant workforce in the Gulf nations. Explain the Steps taken to safeguard the interests of Indian workers. [15 Marks] [250 words]

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