Advisory on overcharging by agents for overseas recruitment

Dec 15: It has been noticed that there has been a huge rise in the number of overseas job seekers being cheated by unregistered recruitment agents with fake job offers and also overcharging to the tune of Rs. 2-5 lakhs. These unregistered/illegal agents operate without obtaining a 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 messages 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 offer comes along with an Employment Contract duly signed by the Foreign Employer, recruitment Agent and the emigrant worker. The Employment Contract must mention the terms & conditions of the job being offered and the salary and other emoluments. Valid job offers must allow the worker to emigrate on the strength of an Employment or Work visa or other similar visa except a tourist visa. It may be noted that a tourist visa should only be used for tourism. Normally, reputed Foreign Employers provide for the cost of airfare, boarding & lodging and insurance coverage.

Emigrant workers should make themselves aware of the 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. The government of India makes it mandatory for registered recruitment agents to purchase Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) for migrant workers which provides various benefits including Rs. 10 Lakh sum assured on death cases and work-related injury and medical expenses with a one-time premium (Rs. 275 for the cover of two years and Rs. 375 for the cover of three years).

Given 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 clicking 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 be involved in overseas recruitment activities. Such activities are in violation of the Emigration Act 1983 and amount to human trafficking, which is a punishable criminal offence.

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

Disclaimer: We donot claim that the images used as part of the news published are always owned by us. From time to time, we use images sourced as part of news or any related images or representations. Kindly take a look at our image usage policy on how we select the image that are used as part of the news.