Poulami Saha & Sankha Ghosh
The ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran is causing a slowdown in the hiring of Indian laborers for jobs in the Gulf region. Numerous reports indicate that thousands of workers are queuing outside visa application centers, eager to secure their visas.
Earlier this week, large crowds of aspiring candidates were seen on the sidewalks outside the visa application offices in Delhi. Many of these workers are hoping to receive their visa clearances soon so they can return to the Gulf for work.
As the US-Iran war continues to rise, several migrant labourers are facing issues in shifting back to their workplace. A Mumbai-based recruitment agent noted that 100,000 to 150,000 Indians migrate to the Middle East each month. But due to the present situation of a war raging in the region, many of the Indians are forced to postpone their departure. In line with this, Amit Saxena, director of Ambe International, “In a few months, more than 300,000 recruitments from India could be affected,” explained to the media in Mumbai.
According to other recruitment consultancies, the entire hiring process usually takes about three months. However, due to ongoing conflicts, the three-month timeline is being extended.
Job hunting in the Gulf is in high demand across India. Some of the top states include Kerala and other southern states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Bihar. Currently, there’s a high demand from the Gulf, especially in the petroleum and refinery sectors. Thus, job hiring and the need for employees remain strong, highlighting a need for Indian candidates and recruiters.
According to Indian government estimates, “NRIs in the Gulf have accounted for almost 40 per cent of overseas Indians’ remittances of nearly $130 billion in 2024.” In a report last year, the Reserve Bank of India and the central bank explained that remittances from Indians in the GCC account for about 4% of the country’s GDP.
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