2 weeks ago
India Opens Seven Gulf One-Stop Centres for Distressed Women Workers
India has made special help centres in seven big cities in the Gulf region to take care of Indian women who work there and are in trouble.
These centres are open all day and all night and have phone lines for emergencies.
If a woman worker needs help, she can get medical care, legal advice, help from the police and someone to talk to about her feelings.
This is important because some Indian women workers in Gulf countries have been treated very badly.
Some had their passports taken away, were not paid their wages and were hurt.
So India made new rules to keep them safer.
Now, women can only be hired through official agencies or employers who are registered and trusted.
Companies that want to hire Indian women must also pay a guarantee of $2,500.
There are also other help offices and websites where workers can complain.
Even with these new rules, reports say many workers still face problems, so these centres are meant to help them.
The Centre has established seven One-Stop Centres in Manama, Muscat, Doha, Riyadh, Dubai, Jeddah and Kuwait to support distressed Indian women workers in Gulf countries.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh informed Parliament about the initiative, which offers 24x7 emergency helplines and medical, legal, police and psychological support.
The government has imposed stricter recruitment norms for female workers, allowing hiring only through state-run agencies or foreign employers registered with Indian Missions.
Foreign employers hiring Indian women must deposit a $2,500 financial guarantee and ensure the employment contract is officially attested.
Between 2014 and June 2026, over 50.25 lakh Indian emigrant workers were granted clearance to work in the six Gulf nations, which host nearly 10 million Indian nationals.
- Who
- Indian women workers in Gulf countries, who will be assisted by the new One-Stop Centres; the initiative was announced by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in Parliament.
- What
- Establishment of seven One-Stop Centres offering 24x7 helplines and medical, legal, police and psychological support, alongside stricter recruitment rules for female migrant workers.
- Where
- Manama, Muscat, Doha, Riyadh, Dubai, Jeddah and Kuwait in the Gulf region.
- When
- Announced when the Minister informed Parliament; related worker clearance data covers 2014 to June 2026 (exact announcement date not stated in the articles).
- Why
- To provide immediate assistance to Indian women workers amid persistent reports of exploitation, including slavery-like conditions under the kafala employment sponsorship system.
Government Response
Persistent Exploitation Concerns
Effectiveness of protections for migrant women workers
Government Response
New One-Stop Centres, stricter recruitment norms, the $2,500 financial guarantee and attested contracts provide immediate and preventive support to Indian women workers in the Gulf.
Persistent Exploitation Concerns
Migrant workers continue to face severe abuses, including passport confiscation, denied wages and physical abuse, and the kafala system remains in place despite UN recommendations to abolish it.
Key facts
- One-Stop Centres established
- 7
- Locations
- Manama, Muscat, Doha, Riyadh, Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait
- Services offered
- 24x7 helplines; medical, legal, police and psychological support
- Financial guarantee required from foreign employers
- $2,500
- Indian emigrant workers cleared (2014-June 2026)
- Over 50.25 lakh
- Indian nationals in six Gulf nations
- Nearly 10 million
- Grievance portals
- MADAD, eMigrate, CPGRAMS
- Insurance cover
- Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY)









