With Gulf countries accounting for nearly half of all Indian workers' deaths from workplace accidents abroad - an average of 3 deaths every week - worker safety must receive far greater priority in India's bilateral engagements. Nearly 33,000 Indian workers died in GCC countries (excluding Bahrain) between 2021 and 2025. Add to this the large number of non-fatal injuries and permanent disabilities, and the scale of the crisis becomes much greater. With more than 10 mn Indians working in the Gulf, workplace safety must be treated as a core policy priority.

India could, as many advanced economies do, incorporate labour rights and worker safety provisions into trade agreements. Such a shift, however, will not be easy. GCC countries are unlikely to accept trade deals that extend beyond tariffs, market access and other commercial issues. India's asymmetric dependence on the region further limits its bargaining power: the Gulf is critical for labour mobility, energy security and remittance inflows. In 2024-25, remittances from the region hit $56.2 bn - around 49% of India's total inward remittances.

Instead, India must strengthen worker safety and welfare by upgrading existing mechanisms. The eMigrate platform should be an active enforcement system that blacklists employers with a history of workplace accidents or repeated safety violations. Independent safety certification for employers and dedicated legal cells in Indian embassies could help fast-track investigations into workplace deaths and ensure accountability. As Gulf sovereign wealth funds seek larger investments in India, New Delhi can link faster regulatory approvals or preferential market access to legally binding commitments on the welfare and safety of Indian workers.