The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a stark caution to individuals seeking employment overseas, highlighting an alarming surge in cases of exploitation and fraud by unregistered recruiting agents. The advisory emphasized the prevalence of fake job offers and exorbitant charges, reaching up to ₹5 lakhs, leading to exploitation and life-threatening conditions for job seekers.
According to the ministry, unregistered agents operate without essential licensing from the MEA, creating difficulties in tracking their whereabouts and authenticity. These illegal entities exploit platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and text messages to deceive job seekers, communicating solely through WhatsApp, thereby masking their identities and making verification challenging.
These agents lure individuals with promises of work in challenging and perilous conditions, with reports citing recruitment for various countries across East Europe, West Asia, Central Asia, Israel, Canada, Myanmar, and Laos.
The advisory stressed the necessity of using the services of registered recruiting agents (RAs) while seeking overseas employment, highlighting the issuance of a license number to authorized agents, clearly displayed in their offices and advertisements.
To ensure safety, the MEA recommended cross-checking the legitimacy of agents by verifying their registration on the government website listing authorized recruitment agents.
Quoting the Emigration Act of 1983, the advisory clarified that legitimate agents cannot charge prospective migrants more than ₹30,000, along with an 18% GST, for their services, mandating the issuance of a receipt for the amount.
Furthermore, genuine job offers must include a signed employment contract between the foreign employer, recruitment agent, and the worker, detailing job terms, salary, and other benefits. Legitimate offers should also facilitate migration via an employment or work visa, not a tourist visa designated for tourism purposes only.
Additionally, the ministry advised aspiring migrant workers to familiarize themselves with local conditions in the destination country, recommending pre-departure orientation training or seeking guidance from the Indian embassy’s community welfare wing.
Highlighting the Indian government’s measures for migrant worker protection, the advisory highlighted the mandatory Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) purchase by registered agents. This scheme ensures various benefits, including financial coverage in case of death or work-related injuries, requiring a one-time premium payment.
Finally, the ministry cautioned unregistered agents against engaging in overseas recruitment, emphasizing their actions as violations of the Emigration Act of 1983 and constituting punishable criminal offenses, including human trafficking.
The advisory aims to safeguard individuals from fraudulent recruitment practices and human exploitation, urging vigilance and the use of legal and registered channels while seeking employment opportunities abroad.
Sources By Agencies
