At a time when the first batch of illegal Indian immigrants were deported from the US under the Trump 2.0 administration, the Indian government is “seriously considering” enacting a new law, tentatively titled ‘Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2024’, to establish an enabling framework which will promote “safe, orderly and regular migration for overseas employment”.

This has emerged from a report presented in Lok Sabha by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, on Monday.

On the committee’s specific query about the proposed Emigration Bill 2023, its current status and objectives, the report says, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has submitted that the proposed legislation on Emigration [Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2024] seeks to replace the Emigration Act of 1983 with a view to facilitate the circular mobility of people intending to emigrate for overseas employment.

“It aims to establish an enabling framework which will promote safe, orderly and regular migration for overseas employment. The proposed draft is under consultation with line Ministries. After the internal consultations draft will be put up for public Consultation for 15/30 days thereafter it will be followed up by Inter Ministerial Consultations along with the Draft Cabinet Note on revised draft,” the report quotes the MEA as submitting.