Overseas Indian Workers are estimated at over 5 million, with a net outflow of an average 700,000 migrants for the last three years excluding returnees. They constitute a significant economic and social source, not only for India, but also for the host countries. The vast majority of these migrants are temporary workers, of which approximately 90 percent work in the Gulf region. 

Upcoming

Ministry has initiated the process for amending the Emigration Act.
Implementation of e-Governance in emigration process to make it simple, quick, effective, transparent and accountable by linking all stakeholders on a common platform.
A scheme was launched during 2006-07 to bring the skill level of potential emigrants at par with the overseas labour market requirement
MOUs with the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) has been signed for the implementation of skill up gradation schemes
Institutional capacities are developed for research in migration through tie ups with academic institutions like Centre for Development Studies and Jawaharlal Nehru University

The Ministry has set up the Indian Council for Overseas Employment (ICOE) to act as a think tank for policy development
The Ministry is also running a 24 hour toll-free helpline for information dissemination and grievance redressal of overseas Indian migrants
 

The Ministry is pursuing a proactive policy to transform the emigration system and empower the emigrants through specific systemic interventions at the domestic, bilateral as well as multilateral fronts. The stated policy of the Ministry is to facilitate safe and regular migration and zero tolerance for irregular migration. 

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA)

Skill Profiling and Skill Certification in India in the context of Promoting Migration from India to Europe

Prepared through a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Giri National Labour Institute, and the International Organization for Migration, this publication discusses the need for data on the medium skilled migrant’s mobility.

India is one of the top suppliers of professional and skilled migrants having deployed some 48,000 skilled migrants between 1995 and 2005. However much of the research and available data has focused on the highly skilled migrant category with only marginal data available on the mobility of the medium skilled sector. Seeing the presence of a large reservoir of labour in India, this study explores the skilled and semi-skilled migrants in India that can meet the labour demand in Europe.

As part of its research the publication analyzes data on emerging trends and labour shortage in Europe’s labour markets. It also looks into available skills curriculum in India as well as skills development and certification systems. Other areas covered by the study include profiles and capacities of skills development institutions, work preferences, educational and vocational qualifications in India. The study concludes by formulating recommendations for policy making and to pursue the promotion of a systematic labour market information system to help facilitate and promote Indian migration to the European Union.