3 Indians Die Every Week in Gulf Workplace Accidents, MEA Data Shows

New Delhi: Over 800 Indian expatriates died in workplace accidents globally between 2023 and 2025, with 55% of the fatalities occurring in Gulf countries, according to data from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This translates to an average of nearly three Indian worker deaths per week in the Gulf region.

Saudi Arabia recorded the highest number of deaths, with 182 fatalities over the three-year period — more than one Indian worker per week. The United Arab Emirates followed with 128 deaths. The recent blast in Qatar, which killed 12 Indians last month, has renewed concerns about workplace safety standards for migrant workers.

The MEA data also highlighted a high number of suicides among Indian workers in Gulf nations, reflecting the severe challenges they face. The Telangana NRI Migrants’ Association attributed the recurring fatalities to multiple factors, including inadequate use of safety equipment, poor adherence to workplace safety protocols, technical failures at industrial sites, and insufficient skill and safety training.

Many workers labour in temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius and return to accommodations cooled to 20 degrees Celsius, exposing their bodies to temperature swings of 20-25 degrees Celsius, which can lead to serious health complications, the association noted. Most Indians in the Gulf are employed in sectors like construction, retail, warehouses, and automobiles, where occupational risks are high.

“At times, workers neglect their own safety by failing to wear protective gear such as helmets, boots, and gloves while working in hazardous industries. In several cases, they are unaware of the risks,” said Manda Bheem Reddy, vice-chairman of the Telangana NRI Cell.

The high number of suicides, the migrants’ welfare association said, is often driven by cramped quarters, poor-quality food, and extremely hectic work schedules. “Also, workers often go without salaries for up to three months while putting in shifts of 12 hours a day. Even when wages are paid, deductions are common, adding to their stress,” said B M Vinod Kumar, chairman of the Telangana government’s NRI advisory committee.

Many employers allegedly evade responsibility by attributing workplace deaths to “natural causes” such as heart attacks, Vinod claimed. Only a few provide compensation through insurance coverage.

According to the MEA, the government accords high priority to the safety and well-being of Indians abroad, and there are channels to enable them to reach out to Indian missions. Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs, said in Rajya Sabha that Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendras have been set up in locations such as New Delhi, Dubai, Riyadh, and Jeddah. “There are dedicated labour wings... Indian missions regularly organise open house and consular camps in remote areas to get feedback from the workers...,” she said.

Further, to ensure women’s safety, only state-run agencies have been authorised to recruit female workers holding ECR passports to the Gulf through the e-Migrate portal, the minister added.