Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh also said the government has received complaints from Indian workers in Saudi Arabia about ill treatment by their employers.
"The number of Indian migrant domestic workers who have been given emigration clearance for recruitment in Gulf countries since September 2014 till date is 58,163," he said.
Singh said the Indian Missions in Bahrain and United Arab Emirates have received four complaints each of physical abuse and harassment of migrant domestic workers.
Listing steps taken to regulate migration, he said age restriction of 30 years has been made mandatory in respect of all ECR passport holders except nurses emigrating to ECR (Emigration Check Required) countries.
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He also said, since August the government has made emigration clearance of all female workers having ECR passports mandatory for overseas employment.
According to the Emigration Act, 1983, Emigration Check Required (ECR) categories of Indian-passport holders need to obtain Emigration Clearance from the office of Protector of Emigrants (POE) for going to 18 countries which are mostly in Gulf region.
Singh said the government has received a total of 1,121 complaints against recruiting agents between 2012 to December 5 this year out of which 973 wre referred to state governments for action.
Answering a question on difficulties being faced by divorced or separated women while applying for passport for their children, Singh said it is not mandatory for the applicant to provide names of both the mother and the father in the application form.