MEA plans to replace Emigration Act, 1983

• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) proposes to introduce the Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2025 in the Parliament.

• It aims to replace the existing Emigration Act, 1983.

For protection and promotion of welfare of emigrants

• Indians have a long history of migration to many parts of the world. Post-Independence, migrants have taken up jobs in almost all professions ranging from semi-skilled work in the construction industry to highly skilled jobs as doctors and engineers.

• Today, India has the world’s largest diaspora community. 

• These emigrants have contributed to not only the economic development of their host countries but have equally benefitted India. 

• The proposed Bill envisages comprehensive emigration management, institutes regulatory mechanisms by developing a regime for safe and orderly migration governing overseas employment of Indian nationals. 

• It also establishes a framework which creates policies and schemes for incentivising policy actions for protection and promotion of welfare of emigrants.

Key points of the proposed Bill are:

i) It proposes to establish an Overseas Mobility and Welfare Council that aims to provide greater convergence between Ministries with respect to policy management.

ii) It seeks to strike a balance between promoting opportunities abroad and establishing a regulatory framework for protection and welfare of vulnerable categories.

iii) It creates a mechanism to oversee administration and implementation of international agreements on migration and mobility.

iv) It creates robust data driven policy management based on labour studies and coordinated actions with different ministries and departments.