NEW DELHI: More than 81,000 Indians have been deported from Gulf states so far this year for visa and other offences, a minister said on Thursday.

Nearly half of those were sent back by the United Arab Emirates , said Vayalar Ravi, who heads a ministry set up to look after Indians working abroad. “The reasons for their deportation include non-possession of valid visas, resident permits and violation of local laws,” Saudi Arabia deported 28,904 illegal Indian migrants, while Kuwait kicked out another 8,234, he told parliament.

Nearly 676,000 people, mainly from the southern Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, flew to the Gulf in 2007 in search of jobs, the ministry said in a statement, adding that a majority were skilled workers. Ravi also said he was taking steps to protect Indians, especially female workers, amid growing complaints of harassment of expatriate house maids.

“Complaints of ill-treatment, harassment, breach of contract received from Indian workers are taken up by Indian missions with sponsors, labour department and police authorities,” he told parliament’s upper house.

Indian diplomatic missions had received 1,865 complaints from Indian maids including for ill-treatment and non-payment of wages, and many of the complaints came from the UAE, Ravi said.—AFP