Ministry of External Affairs
OE & PGE Division
*****
Advisory on
overcharging by agents for overseas recruitment, offering fake overseas jobs
and illegal recruitment
It has been noticed that there has been a huge rise
in the number of overseas job seekers being cheated by unregistered recruitment
agents by fake job offers and also overcharging to the tune of Rs. 2-5
lakhs. These unregistered/illegal agents
operate without obtaining license from the Ministry of External Affairs, which
is mandatory for any recruitment for work abroad. It is reported that many
illegal agents operate through Facebook, Whatsapp, text message and other such
mediums. These agencies provide little
or no details of their whereabouts and contacts. They usually communicate only
through Whatsapp, making it difficult to ascertain the location and identity of
the caller & genuineness of the job offer. Such agents also lure workers to
work in difficult and life threatening conditions. Such cases are being
reported for recruitment to work in several East European Countries, some of
the Gulf countries, Central Asian countries, Israel, Canada, Myanmar and Lao
People’s Democratic Republic.
A valid job offers come along with Employment
Contract duly signed by Foreign Employer, recruitment Agent and the emigrant
worker. The Employment Contract must mention term & conditions of the job
being offered and the salary and other emoluments. Valid job offers must allow
the worker to emigrate on strength of Employment or Work visa or other similar
visa except tourist visa. It may be noted that tourist visa should only be used
for the purpose of tourism. Normally,
reputed Foreign Employers provide for cost of airfare, boarding & lodging
and insurance cover.
Emigrant workers should make themselves aware of
local conditions of the destination country. The information may be obtained by
attending Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT) Centers or from the
Community Welfare Wing of the concerned Indian Embassy in the destination
country. Government of India makes it mandatory for registered recruitment
agents to purchase Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) for the migrant workers
which provides various benefits including Rs. 10 Lakh sum assured on death
cases and work related injury and medical expenses with one time premium (Rs.
275 for the cover of two years and Rs. 375 for the cover of three years).
In view of the above, persons seeking jobs abroad
are requested to use the safe and legal services of registered Recruiting
Agents (RA) only. All registered RAs are issued a license number which is
prominently displayed in their office premises and in their advertisements,
including newspapers and social media. Prospective emigrants are advised to
cross check the genuineness of the RA by visiting the government website www.emigrate.gov.in and click the link “List of active RA”. As per the Emigration Act
1983, no recruiting agent shall collect from the prospective emigrant the
service charges more than Rs. 30,000 + GST (18%), in respect of services
provided by it to that emigrant and the recruiting agent shall issue a receipt
to the emigrant for the amount collected by it in this regard. Going abroad
through any other channel of recruitment involves serious risk of being
defrauded of money, not landing in the promised job and difficult living
conditions abroad. All unregistered agencies are being warned not to involve in
overseas recruitment activities. Such activities are in violation of Emigration
Act 1983 and amount to human trafficking, which is a punishable criminal
offense.
For complaints & queries kindly contact:
1. Pravasi
Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra (PBSK), Ministry of External Affairs
Room No.
1005, 10th Floor, Akbar Bhawan, Chanakayapuri, New Delhi 110021
Toll Free No: 1800 11 3090 (Accessible from India only)
Chargeable No. +91-11-2688-5021 (Standard long distance call charges apply)
WhatsApp No. +91-7428 3211 44/E-mail: helpline@mea.gov.in
2. Office of
Protector General of Emigrants, Ministry of External Affairs,
Room No.
1009, 10th Floor, Akbar Bhawan, Chanakayapuri. New Delhi 110021
Email: pge@mea.gov.in / diroe1@mea.gov.in
