Lok Sabha Question No. 219 (STARRED), answered on 2026-02-13
Subject: Indian Workers Stranded in South East Asian Countries
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Azad Kirti Jha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 219 ANSWERED ON 13/02/2026

## INDIAN WORKERS STRANDED IN SOUTH EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES

*219. Shri Azad Kirti Jha:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether a large number of Indian workers are stranded in South East Asian Countries due to cyber slavery, if so, the details of workers currently stranded and rescued during the last five years, country-wise;

(b) the details of the platforms and mediums adopted by criminals to lure Indians and actions taken against them;

(c) the measures taken by the Government to prevent Indian citizens from getting trapped in such situations and penalise the criminals via international cooperation;

(d) whether the Government has received any complaints of missing people stranded in those countries, if so, the details thereof; and (e) the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to get bring back Indian Nationals from South East Asia?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## (DR. SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR)

## (a) to (e)  A statement is laid on the table of the House.

Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *219 for reply on 13.02.2026 regarding 'Indian Workers Stranded in South East Asian Countries'

(a) to (e)  Government has been made aware of instances of dubious firms involved in fake recruitment job offers having lured Indian nationals mostly through social media channels to South-East Asian countries including Cambodia, Myanmar and Lao PDR and made them to carry out cyber crime and other fraudulent activities from scam centres operating in these countries. The exact number of Indian nationals stranded in these countries is not known as Indian nationals reach these scam centres on their own volition through fraudulent/unscrupulous   recruitment   agents/agencies   and   through illegal channels.

Government accords utmost priority to the safety, security and wellbeing of Indian nationals abroad. Government of India has raised this issue at political level with the concerned host Governments from time to time. Whenever such issues come to light, Missions/Posts take up the challenge of rescue and repatriation of Indian nationals actively   with   the   local   Ministry   of   Foreign   Affairs   and   other

concerned   Government   agencies   of   the   host   country   like Immigration, Labour Department, Home Affairs, Defence and Border Affairs   and   law   enforcement   agencies.   As   a   result   of   concerted efforts of our Embassies in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar, a number of Indian nationals have been rescued in the last four years (till December 2025). Details are mentioned in the table below:

| S.No.   | Country   |   No. of Indian Nationals rescued |   No. of Indian Nationals rescued |   No. of Indian Nationals rescued | No. of Indian Nationals rescued   |
|---------|-----------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|         |           |                              2022 |                              2023 |                              2024 | 2025                              |
| 1       | Cambodia  |                                44 |                               207 |                               982 | 1,300                             |
| 2       | Lao PDR   |                                74 |                               244 |                               558 | 1,501                             |
| 3       | Myanmar   |                               338 |                                89 |                               147 | 1,594                             |

Ministry issues advisories and social media posts about the fake job rackets from time to time, advising prospective job seekers to verify all antecedents of recruiting agents and companies before accepting any kind of employment offer and cautioning them against being enticed and entrapped in fraudulent job offers in these countries. Similar   advisories   are   also   issued   by   the   respective   Indian Missions/Posts abroad through their official websites, social media handles and other publicity efforts.

The Protector General of Emigrants (PGE) in the Ministry of External Affairs through 16 Protector of Emigrants (PoEs) across India, regularly coordinates with the State Governments regarding issues   of   illegal   recruiting   agencies   and   the   ways   to   address challenges   related   to   enforcement   of   emigration   rules   and regulations. Ministry, in coordination with the Indian Missions/Posts abroad and offices of Protectors of Emigrants in India, takes quick and   decisive   action   whenever   instances   of   exploitation   of   job seekers by illegal agents come to notice. A list of 3,505 unregistered recruiting agents (till December 2025) has been published on eMigrate portal to caution prospective emigrants. This information is regularly updated based on the complaints filed by the aggrieved individuals and based on the inputs received from our Missions/Posts abroad. The complaint against the illegal agents and the dubious firms luring Indian youth in false recruitment offers through various channels   are   regularly   shared   with   the   respective   State Governments and other agencies such as I4C, MHA for suitable action.   The   Government   of   India   has   taken   steps   to   spread awareness   which   include   dissemination   of   relevant   information through SMS, I4C social media account, radio campaigns, engaged MyGov for publicity in multiple channels, organizing cyber safety and

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security   awareness   weeks   in   association   with   States/UTs, newspaper advertisement on digital arrest scams, announcements in Delhi Metros on digital arrest, and other modus operandi of cyber crimes.

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