Lok Sabha Question No. 4358 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-20
Subject: Fake Job Offers
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Satpal Brahamchari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 4358 ANSWERED ON- 20/12/2024 FAKE JOB OFFERS

†4358. SHRI SATPAL BRAHAMCHARI

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government is aware of the fake job offers from various countries and the exploitation of young job aspirants by scamsters;

(b) if so, the number of cases registered against the said fake job offers; and (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to curb fake job offers and cases related thereto?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a to c) It has come to the notice of the Government instances of dubious entities involved in fake recruitment job offers having lured Indian nationals including   youth   mostly   through   social   media   channels   for   overseas employment to various countries.

Ministry comes   to know   about such fraudulent activities of illegal/unscrupulous recruitment agents/agencies in the country as and when a complaint is filed by aggrieved emigrants or their relatives/friends/family members, who have been cheated by their employers, as these Indian nationals proceed abroad on their own volition through fraudulent/unscrupulous   recruitment   agents/agencies   and   through   illegal channels.

Government accords utmost priority to the safety, security and well-being of Indian nationals proceeding for employment abroad. As per The Emigration Act 1983, no person/agency can function as Recruiting Agent (RA) without a valid license issued by the Registering Authority i.e. Protector General of Emigrants.   Mandatory   registration   of   RA   is   aimed   to   reduce   fraud   and exploitation   of   prospective   Indian   emigrants   proceeding   for   employment abroad.   It   is   also   mandatory   for   ECR   passport   holders   proceeding   for employment to any of the 18 notified Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries   to   obtain   Emigration   Clearance   (EC)   from   the   office   of   the Protector of Emigrants (POE).

As and when complaints against the illegal   agents/dubious   firms   luring Indian   youth   in   false   recruitment   offers   through   various   channels   are received, such matters are referred to the State police for investigation and prosecution   under   the   relevant   legal   provisions   of   the   Bharatiya   Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other legislation in place including the ones enacted by

the some State Governments. In the cyber domain, action is also taken against   illegal   recruiting   agents   in   association   with   Indian   Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), MHA and State Police authorities. Requests to take down social media posts of illegal Recruiting Agents from all over India have been regularly shared with I4C.

Ministry also issues advisories through eMigrate portal, social media handles and other modes of publicity about the perils of fake job rackets and ways to prevent the same. Till October 2024, a total of 3,094 unregistered agents in country have been notified on the eMigrate portal. The awareness campaign on safe and legal migration through eMigrate portal is carried out by the Ministry across the country from time to time by conducting workshops, trainings, information sessions, digital campaigns for media groups, police officials   and   law   enforcement   agencies,   local   administration,   aspiring recruiting agents, entrepreneurs and general public. During these sessions awareness on emigration regulations, schemes beneficial for emigrants like Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY), Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT), eMigrate portal and various advisories issued by Indian Embassies are brought to the notice of all stakeholders including job seekers, and advise them to verify all antecedents of Recruiting Agents before accepting any kind of employment offer and not be enticed and entrapped in the fraudulent job offers.

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