India To Introduce New Laws For Emigrants

NEW DELHI — The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on October 10 that it plans to introduce the Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2025 in Parliament. The proposed legislation aims to modernize India’s emigration system, ensure the safety and welfare of citizens working abroad, and promote orderly migration.

The new bill is set to replace the Emigration Act of 1983, updating the legal framework to reflect current global labor and migration trends. It will establish policies and schemes to protect Indian emigrants and create incentives to promote their welfare.

A key feature of the bill is the creation of an Overseas Mobility and Welfare Council, which will coordinate policies among different government ministries and oversee the implementation of international agreements on migration and mobility.

According to the MEA, the proposed law “seeks to strike a balance between promoting opportunities abroad and establishing a regulatory framework for the protection and welfare of vulnerable categories.”

The ministry added that the bill will support data-driven policymaking, drawing on labor market studies and inter-ministerial cooperation to manage overseas employment more effectively.