16 lakh Indian blue-collar workers employed across 14 Gulf nations; Saudi Arabia leads hiring spree

News Network
August 2, 2025

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Mangaluru: Indian blue-collar workers continue to form the backbone of the Gulf region’s labour force, with over 16 lakh Indians currently employed in 14 countries across the Middle East, fresh government data reveals.

Figures presented by the Ministry of External Affairs in the Rajya Sabha on July 31 highlight the sharp rise in migration over the past five years, particularly in the construction and other labour-intensive sectors.

Saudi Arabia Tops the List

Between January 2020 and June 2025, Saudi Arabia alone absorbed 6.95 lakh Indian workers, followed by the UAE (3.41 lakh), Kuwait (2.01 lakh), Qatar (1.53 lakh), and Oman (1.16 lakh).

Recruitment numbers surged post-pandemic, peaking in 2023 with 3.98 lakh workers heading abroad — Saudi Arabia alone hired over 2 lakh that year. The upward trend continued in 2024, with 1.67 lakh placements, and remains strong in 2025, with the UAE currently leading recruitment.

Why Indians Are in Demand

Saudi Arabia’s ongoing Vision 2030 mega-projects, including futuristic cities like NEOM and The Line, are fuelling this demand.

Indian workers are preferred for their experience, reliability, and ability to adapt to Gulf work culture,” said Althaf Ullal, MD and CEO of Saad Al Qahtani Contracting (SAQCO), based in Al Khobar.

KA Sheikh Karnire, operations director at Expertise Contracting Company Limited, added that their firm alone recruits and trains 4,000–5,000 Indian workers annually for Saudi projects. Kuwait too has seen rising demand, with companies offering higher pay packages to attract talent.

Government Safety Net for Migrants

To safeguard migrant workers, the Union government has rolled out multiple welfare initiatives, including toll-free helplines, WhatsApp support, mobile apps, and Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendras in key cities. Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT) and the Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana ensure safer migration, while the Indian Community Welfare Fund — which has disbursed ₹703 crore so far — has supported over 3.5 lakh Indians with legal, medical, and emergency aid abroad.

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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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News Network
December 4,2025

Udupi: A 40-year-old NRI from Udupi has reportedly lost more than Rs 12.25 lakh in an online investment scam operated through Telegram.

According to a complaint filed at the CEN police station, Leo Jerome Mendonsa, who has been working in Dubai for the past 15 years in computer accessories sales, maintains NRI accounts in Karkala and Nitte.

On November 12, 2025, Mendonsa was added to a Telegram group called Instaflow Earnings by unknown individuals. Users identified as Priya and Dipannita persuaded him to invest in “Revenue Tasks.” Initially, Mendonsa transferred Rs 1,100 multiple times and received the promised returns, encouraging him to continue.

On November 14, another user, Nishmitha Shetty, directed him to register on a website, digitvisionuoce.cc, and invest Rs 4 lakh in various shares. Over the next few days, he made multiple transfers totaling Rs 12,25,000, including Rs 50,000 via Google Pay, believing the scheme was legitimate.

After receiving the money, the alleged handlers stopped responding, and neither the invested amount nor the promised profits were returned.

The CEN police have registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigations are ongoing.

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