India has signed 27 migration and mobility agreements with 23 countries, and such partnerships must be expanded to provide safe pathways for emigration and protection of the diaspora, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said on Tuesday, 6 May, at the Second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) at the United Nations. Singh underscored that these agreements facilitate structured, skills-based mobility with a strong emphasis on worker welfare, social protection, and fair recruitment practices.

Key Agreements and Recent Milestones

Among India's migration and mobility pacts, the most significant recent ones include an agreement with the European Union signed in January, a pact with Britain concluded last July, and a deal with New Zealand signed last month. These agreements are designed to create formal, regulated channels for Indian workers seeking employment abroad, reducing vulnerability to exploitation and irregular migration routes.

"We believe such partnerships must continue to be strengthened and expanded for safeguarding the rights of our citizens abroad," Singh said, addressing delegates at the IMRF — a quadrennial review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, adopted at the UN in 2018.

Skills Development as a Migration Cornerstone

Singh described enhancing the international-level skills of prospective migrants as "a cornerstone of our migration governance." He highlighted the role of Skill India International Centres and digital platforms in aligning India's workforce with global standards. India is also working with partner countries to advance mutual recognition of skills certifications, which would ease the process of credential verification for Indian workers abroad.

Pre-departure orientation programmes have been established to ensure migrants are well-informed and better prepared for their roles overseas, Singh added. These programmes aim to reduce cases of deception and malpractice in recruitment, which have historically affected Indian migrant workers, particularly in the Gulf region.

Digital Infrastructure Protecting Migrant Workers

India's Digital Public Infrastructure has played what Singh called a "transformative role" in protecting migrant workers and ensuring transparency in recruitment and deployment processes. The key digital platforms cited include the eMigrate system, the National Career Service portal, and the Skill India Digital Hub. Together, these tools create an auditable trail of recruitment transactions, reducing the scope for fraudulent agents to exploit workers.

Welfare Mechanisms for Vulnerable Migrants

Singh emphasised that the welfare and protection of overseas Indians remain at the core of India's migration policies. He specifically highlighted the Indian Community Welfare Fund and the MADAD portal — named after the Hindi word for help — which allows overseas Indians to register employment and other complaints online with Indian government agencies and track their resolution in real time.

"Our responsive consular services also provide timely assistance, legal, financial, and insurance coverage to our nationals overseas," Singh said. This comes amid growing global attention on the rights of migrant workers, with the IMRF serving as a critical platform for countries to assess progress against the commitments made under the 2018 Global Compact.

What's Next

With the IMRF convening every four years, India's participation signals its intent to position itself as a responsible migration governance leader. Expanding the current network of 27 agreements across 23 countries will be closely watched by both the Indian diaspora and international labour organisations as a measure of the country's commitment to protecting its workers abroad.