INDIA - MIGRATION IN 1999

Overseas labor from India continued toward its traditional region of destination, the Middle East. In 1998 India issued about 100,000 visas for labor overseas; majority of the labor flows was to Saudi Arabia, followed by the UAE. However, a recent development of export of highly skilled technicians toward the United States was strengthened in 1999. Taking advantage of the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act passed by the United States in 1999, increasing the H1-B quota from 65,000 to 115,000 in 1999 and 2000, to be reduced to 107,500 in 2001, Indians skilled in information technology migrated to the United States in large number, sometimes without the appropriate qualifications.

Some discussion took place with neighboring Bangladesh concerning the control of the 400 kilometers border between the two countries. Bangladeshi irregular migrants were repatriated several times. However, Bangladesh refused to take them back some times, since they lack identification papers to determine their nationality. A fence put up at the border to stop irregular immigration trapped some 500,000 Indians living in 200 villages within the 150 meters of free zone, who need to be relocated. According to India’s Border Security Force (BSF), 3,153 Bangladeshis have been arrested in 1999 while attempting to enter India, up from 2,822 in 1998. Also some 2,627 Pakistanis are estimated to be overstaying after the expiration of their visa.