Seeking to prevent exploitation of Indian workers abroad, the government is planning to make it mandatory for foreign employers from certain countries to register in India under a new Emigration Law.

The Emigration Bill that will replace the legislation of 1983 is expected to be introduced in Parliament during the ongoing Budget session.

The draft bill has been sent to various ministries including Law Ministry and Home Ministry for their comments and once the process is completed, it will be taken up by the Cabinet for consideration.

Under the new law, an Immigration Authority would be set up to oversee all the aspects related to movement of workers, mainly to Gulf countries and Malaysia.

"Foreign employers from notified countries will have to register with the authority," Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi told PTI in an interview.

The notified countries are 18 countries of Gulf and Malaysia.

The proposal for mandatory registration has been mooted as workers wanting to go abroad for greener pastures are often duped by the recruitment agents and touts.

There have been umpteen cases where passports of the workers are confiscated by foreign employers or touts soon after arrival to their destinations abroad. The workers are then exploited and not paid the wages as promised.