Skilled Indian workers: Niti Aayog calls for group visas, standardised checks, and contract verification

Niti Aayog has urged the government to tighten systems that support skilled Indian workers moving abroad. A working paper asked for clear contract checks, more transparency, and smoother visa handling through bilateral channels. It also proposed group visa submissions, common document standards, and pre-verification steps to reduce delays and risks for workers.

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The paper, titled States Framework: Advancing International Mobility for Skilled Workers, also recommended direct coordination with destination-country embassies. It suggested liaison arrangements to help standardise visa processing for Indian applicants. It said workers should receive organised help for form filing, appointment booking, biometrics, and compiling required papers.

Skilled Indian workers visa process and contract verification

Niti Aayog said employment contracts should be checked before any visa decision. It recommended that every contract is reviewed, registered, and verified ahead of visa processing. The paper also repeated the need for structured help with forms, appointments, biometrics, and document preparation, to support applicants through each step.

The think tank linked these steps to India’s time-bound labour advantage. It cited data that India’s demographic advantage will peak in 2030. After that, the dividend is expected to decline due to gradual population ageing. The paper said this creates a limited window when India has its biggest surplus labour force.

International migrants labour force data and ILO estimates

The paper said migrants are now a key part of labour supply worldwide. It cited ILO estimates that in 2022 the global stock of international migrants was 284.5 million. Of these, 255.7 million were of working age 15 +. Migrants made up 4.7 per cent of the global labour force.

It added that 167.7 million migrants were part of the global labour force in 2022. Of them, 155.6 million were employed. Another 12.1 million were unemployed but available for work. The figures were used to show steady demand for workers across borders.

PRAYAS report on skilling pathways for overseas jobs

The paper referred to the PRAYAS International Migration and Mobility Mapping Report 2026. It said access to formal skilling routes for overseas jobs remained uneven across regions and worker groups. For low- and semi-skilled workers, relatives and friends abroad were often the first information source.

It also said 33 per cent of aspiring workers depended on private recruitment agencies. These agencies helped with job placement, visa processing, and pre-departure orientation. The paper said this reliance showed gaps in easy-to-access formal training systems for overseas employment.

For people aiming to become skilled for overseas work, the paper called for broader training. It listed language learning, cultural orientation, and pre-departure readiness. It said such preparation helps smoother adjustment and meets destination-country requirements, while reducing dependence on informal routes.

The paper said mobility should follow strong skill ecosystems inside India. It said this prevents overseas work from becoming a separate informal channel. It added that better systems can support worker welfare and national economic gains. The approach linked training, safe recruitment, and cleaner documentation.

Indian workers migration drivers and destination countries

The PRAYAS report said wage differences still shaped migration choices for skilled and semi-skilled workers. It said higher earnings abroad were the main pull factor. It also listed poverty, debt, and lack of jobs in India as key push factors that influenced decisions.

The report said the Gulf Cooperation Council GCC region stayed a major destination. It linked this to long labour networks and steady demand for low- and semi-skilled work. At the same time, it noted changing plans among workers seeking new countries and job types.

It said interest was rising in developed economies like Australia, Canada, Germany, and Japan. The report linked this to safer conditions, long-term career options, and structured skill routes. It also flagged Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland as new options in construction, care, and manufacturing.

Niti Aayog’s paper placed these trends within a narrow demographic window before 2030. It said stronger bilateral visa coordination, standard documents, and pre-verified contracts can support safer movement. It also highlighted the need to widen formal training access, as new destinations open and migration choices remain wage-led.

With inputs from PTI