Ending an ongoing confusion over mandatory registration on the e-migrate portal, India's Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan has clarified that e-Migrate registration is not mandatory for Indian emigration check not required (ECNR) passport holders.

When Khaleej Times met with the minister last month during his UAE visit, he'd said the government is still mulling over this decision. However, he has now clarified that registration is voluntary.

In the UAE, 39,372 ECR passport holders have registered in the e-Migrate system this year till June 30.

Responding to supplementaries during question hour, the government informed the parliament's lower house (Lok Sabha) on Wednesday (July 10) that e-Migrate registration is mandatory only for all Emigration Check Required (ECR) passport holders going for employment to the 18 ECR countries.

"ECR passport holders need to take emigration clearance from the concerned Protector of Emigrants. Since the launch of the e-Migrate system with effect from May 26, 2014, such clearance is to be done through the system," he said.

He added: "For ECNR passport holders, registration in the e-Migrate is currently voluntary." He also responded to questions about unpaid workers in the Gulf and several other issues.

The minister also said the Ministry of Women and Child Development has received and addressed 4,698 complaints of distressed Indian women deserted by their non-resident Indian spouses since 2016.

Copyright © 2019 Khaleej Times. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

Disclaimer: The content of this article is syndicated or provided to this website from an external third party provider. We are not responsible for, and do not control, such external websites, entities, applications or media publishers. The body of the text is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither we nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this article. Read our full disclaimer policy here.