International Migrant Workers Protection System
Dignity travels
with every worker.
Trusted guidance, rights information and direct support for people who cross borders to build a better future.
✓ Confidential guidance
✓ Worker-first support
✓ Verified information
WORKER-CENTRED
01 Fair recruitment
02 Safe employment
03 Access to justice
04 Return & reintegration
Protection in every chapter
A safer journey, one clear step at a time.
Explore the four moments where preparation, rights information and trusted support can make the biggest difference.
Slide 1 of 4
Safety. Voice. Dignity.
167.7M
international migrants in destination-country labour forces in 2022
People, not paperwork
Migration for work should never cost a person their freedom.
An international migrant worker is someone engaged in paid work in a country where they are not a national. IMWPS helps workers prepare safely, understand protections, spot exploitation and reach trusted help.
4.7%of the global labour force in 2022
Every statusbasic human rights belong to all workers
ILO global estimate: 167.7 million international migrants participated in destination-country labour forces in 2022 — 4.7% of the global labour force.
Your protection baseline
Rights do not stop at a border.
International standards provide a common foundation. Exact legal protections and remedies vary by destination country.
01↗
Fair pay & conditions
Equal treatment in wages, hours, rest, leave and basic working conditions under applicable law.
02↗
A safe workplace
Protection from preventable hazards, access to safety equipment, training and urgent medical care.
03↗
Freedom from forced labour
No one may use debt, threats, violence, confinement or document retention to force you to work.
04↗
Your identity documents
You should control your passport and identity papers and be able to access them at all times.
05↗
Clear job information
Receive truthful recruitment information and a written contract in a language you understand before travel.
06↗
A voice & a remedy
Seek help, join worker organizations where lawful, file complaints and access courts or consular support.
Research basis: ILO Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, ILO labour-migration standards, and the UN
migrant-workers rights framework. Exact legal remedies vary by country.
Before you leave
A safer journey starts before the flight.
Pre-departure checklist
Pause. Verify. Protect.
Verify
Check the recruiter, employer, workplace and job visa through official channels. Never travel for work on a tourist visa.
Read
Confirm salary, duties, hours, overtime, leave, insurance, accommodation, deductions and return travel in the contract.
Copy
Keep secure paper and digital copies of your passport, visa, contract, receipts, tickets and key contact details.
Prepare
Save local emergency, embassy and worker-support numbers. Learn the destination’s labour and immigration rules.
For Indian workers before departure
Verify the Recruiting Agent, travel only on the correct employment visa, obtain a signed contract, complete required emigration clearance and PBBY insurance when applicable, and save Embassy, MADAD and PBSK contacts.
Recognize exploitation
This is not normal work.
One serious sign is enough to seek advice. Several signs together may indicate forced labour or trafficking.
01
The job, pay, employer or location is different from what you were promised.
02
Your passport, phone, bank card or contract is taken away.
03
You cannot leave your work or accommodation freely.
04
You are isolated, monitored or stopped from contacting family or authorities.
05
Wages are withheld, delayed or reduced by unexplained deductions.
06
Debt, deposits or recruitment fees are used to keep you working.
07
You face threats, violence, sexual abuse, humiliation or threats of deportation.
08
Overtime is forced or unpaid, rest days are denied, or living conditions are abusive.
ILO warning signs include deception, restriction of movement, isolation, threats, document retention,
withheld wages, debt bondage, abusive conditions and excessive overtime.
When something is wrong
Four actions can help you regain control.
Move toward safety
If danger is immediate, call the destination country’s emergency service and go to a safe public place when possible.
Contact your mission
Tell your embassy or consulate your exact location, immediate danger, medical needs and a safe way to call you back.
Report & preserve
Contact local labour or police authorities. Save contracts, wage records, receipts, messages and names only when safe.
Track the complaint
Indian nationals can register a grievance through MADAD and report recruitment issues through eMigrate.
తెలుగు త్వరిత సహాయంతెలుగులో చదవండి
ప్రమాదంలో ఉన్నారా? ముందుగా మీరు ఉన్న దేశంలోని ఎమర్జెన్సీ సేవలకు కాల్ చేసి, సాధ్యమైతే సురక్షితమైన ప్రజా ప్రదేశానికి వెళ్లండి.
పాస్పోర్ట్ తీసుకున్నారా? సురక్షితంగా ఉంటే ఆధారాలను భద్రపరచి, భారత రాయబార కార్యాలయం లేదా కాన్సులేట్ను సంప్రదించండి.
ఉద్యోగం మాట ఇచ్చినట్టు లేదా? కాంట్రాక్ట్, జీతం రికార్డులు, రసీదులు, మెసేజ్లు భద్రంగా ఉంచి MADAD లేదా eMigrate ద్వారా ఫిర్యాదు చేయండి.
Your contract is evidence
Read every line before you sign.
A safe employment contract should clearly state the real job and workplace, salary and currency, payment schedule, hours, overtime, weekly rest, leave, accommodation, insurance, deductions, termination terms and return travel.
- Never sign a blank or incomplete document.
- Ask for a version in a language you understand.
- Keep a copy that matches the document used for your visa.
- Check current permitted recruitment charges and insist on receipts.
Trusted pathways
Official help, explained right here.
Essential guidance is available on this page without sending you to another website. Confirm changing contact details through the relevant authority when you are able.
Verify before you pay
Indian workers should use only a registered Recruiting Agent. Confirm the licence, employer and job, keep every receipt, and complete required emigration clearance when applicable.
Recruitment safetyReport and track a grievance
Indian nationals and families can report abuse, withheld wages, contract violations, missing persons or repatriation needs. Keep your details and a safe callback number ready.
Consular grievanceContact your Embassy or Consulate
Seek consular help for danger, detention, violence, a lost or withheld passport, or return guidance. State your location, medical needs and a safe contact method.
Emergency supportWorker support by phone
PBSK offers overseas-employment guidance and grievance support. From India: 1800 11 3090. International: +91 11 2688 5021. WhatsApp: +91 74283 21144.
Official India contactsFive fundamental rights at work
Association and collective bargaining; freedom from forced labour, child labour and discrimination; and a safe and healthy working environment. These principles include migrant workers.
ILO frameworkMigrant-worker rights framework
The UN framework recognizes dignity, safety, fair conditions, control of identity documents, urgent medical care and consular help. Enforceable rights depend on local law.
UN frameworkEveryday protection
Simple habits build stronger evidence.
Keep a regular record of pay, safety, housing and family contact. Small details can make it easier to explain a problem and ask for the right support.
AT WORK
Track pay, hours and hazards.
Note each shift, overtime hour, payment, deduction and safety incident. Keep payslips, bank records, messages and photographs only when it is safe to do so.
- Compare every payment with your contract.
- Report missing protective equipment early.
WHERE YOU LIVE
Safe housing is part of wellbeing.
Accommodation should not trap, isolate or expose you to serious hazards. Record unsafe wiring, blocked exits, overcrowding, missing water or sanitation and denied medical care.
- Know the nearest safe public place.
- Keep your phone and documents accessible.
FAMILY & RETURN
Stay connected and plan ahead.
Agree on regular check-ins and a private distress phrase with someone you trust. Share document copies, employer details and travel plans, and use traceable remittance channels.
- Update family when your job or address changes.
- Save money and documents for a safe return.
Our promise
Information that puts the worker first.
IMWPS brings safety guidance, rights information and trusted routes to help into one calm, practical experience.
Call the help desk →Frequently asked
Clear answers for difficult moments.
These answers are general information, not case-specific legal advice.
Who is an international migrant worker?+
A person who is, will be or has been engaged in paid work in a country where they are not a national. Protections can apply at recruitment, during travel, at work and on return.
What should I do if my employer keeps my passport?+
Ask for its return only if it is safe. Keep evidence, contact your embassy or consulate and seek advice from the local labour authority or a trusted worker-support organization.
Can I complain if I used an unregistered recruiter?+
Yes. Your safety and access to help still matter. Indian workers or families can use MADAD, report recruitment issues through eMigrate and contact the nearest Indian Mission.
What information should I share when asking for help?+
Your safe callback number, exact location, passport and visa details, employer or sponsor, recruiter, contract, problem summary and any urgent medical or safety needs.
Are the same labour rights guaranteed in every country?+
No. International standards set an important framework, while enforceable rights and remedies depend on national law, treaty commitments and your circumstances. Seek local legal or official advice for a case-specific answer.
How can I document unpaid wages or excessive overtime?+
Keep a private timeline of shifts, overtime, agreed pay, deductions and actual payments. Save contracts, payslips, bank records, messages and photographs only when safe, and keep a backup with someone you trust.
What should I do if my accommodation is unsafe?+
If danger is immediate, move to a safe public place when possible. Record serious hazards, contact the responsible local authority or worker-support service, and tell your embassy or consulate if you are trapped, threatened or denied essential care.
How can my family help while I work abroad?+
Give a trusted person copies of your passport, visa, contract, employer address and travel details. Agree on regular check-ins and a distress phrase, and tell them how to reach the IMWPS desk and your embassy.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE.