Lok Sabha Question No. 1027 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-05
Subject: Exploitation of Indian Migrant Workers Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Ms Sayani Ghosh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1027

ANSWERED ON- 05/12/2025

EXPLOITATION OF INDIAN MIGRANT WORKERS ABROAD

1027.     MS. SAYANI GHOSH

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

(a) whether the Government is aware of  incidents of  Indian migrant workers   being   stranded/trapped   in   foreign   countries   after   being duped   by   unscrupulous   recruiting   agents/contractors,   if   so,   the details thereof;

(b) the number of such cases reported since 2014, country-wise, and the steps taken by Indian embassies to secure their release or repatriation;

(c) whether the Government has identified illegal recruiting agents operating   within   India,   if   so,   the   details   thereof   alongwith   the number of such agents prosecuted and penalties imposed on them;

(d) whether the Government has any bilateral mechanisms/agreements   with   destination   countries   to   ensure protection/grievance redressal/legal assistance for Indian workers facing exploitation/contract violations, if  so, the details thereof; (e)   the   preventive   measures   being   implemented   to   verify   the credentials of  foreign employers and Indian recruitment contractors before granting emigration clearance; and (f) whether the Government proposes to establish an early warning Indian system   to   detect   fraudulent   recruitment   practices   of migrants abroad?

## 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 highest priority to the safety, security and well-being of Indian nationals proceeding for employment abroad. As per Section 10 of the Emigration Act, 1983, no person/agency can function   as   Recruiting   Agent   (RA)   without   a   valid   Registration Certificate (RC) issued by the Registering Authority, i.e., Protector General   of   Emigrants   (PGE).   As   and   when   complaints   of   illegal migration/human trafficking 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. In the cyber domain, action is also taken

against illegal recruiting agents in association with MHA and State Police authorities. Requests to take down social media posts of illegal recruiting agencies from all over India including Punjab have been regularly shared with MHA.

Ministry   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 June 2025, a total of 3,505   illegal   agents   in   the   country   have   been   notified   on   the eMigrate   portal.   The   awareness   campaign   on   safe   and   legal migration   through   eMigrate   portal   has   been   carried   out   by   the Ministry   across   the   country   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

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various advisories issued by Indian Embassies are brought to the notice of all stakeholders.

Ministry 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. Videsh Sampark   Programme   is   organized in collaboration   with   State   Governments   from   time   to   time.   The Ministry regularly organises such outreach programs to sensitise various stakeholders about the benefits of safe and legal migration and   suggests   ways   to   prevent   illegal   migration   through fake/unregistered recruitment agencies. In addition to the regular information   sharing   on   unregistered   recruiting   agencies,   regular meetings   with   the   State   level   Nodal   Officer   are   held.   Further, workshops & training sessions are held by the Ministry for the law enforcement   agencies   of   the   State   Governments   in   which information   on   the   Standard   Operating   Procedures   (SOP)   of   the Ministry, detection of unlawful content on social media, and case studies of Cyber Scamming is shared with the participants.

(d)   The   Government   of   India   has   established   several   bilateral mechanisms   and   agreements   with   key   destination   countries, including those in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), to safeguard Indian workers and ensure timely grievance redressal. These include Labour and Manpower Cooperation Agreements/MoUs, Agreements/Protocol   on   Domestic   Workers,   and   Joint   Working Groups/Joint Committee Meetings that oversee implementation of worker-protection   provisions,   streamline   recruitment   processes, facilitate resolution of complaints, and strengthen legal assistance frameworks. Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements signed with   countries   also   contain   provisions   for   holding   regular   Joint Working Group meetings under which such issues pertaining to students,   professionals,   and   reseachers   are   highlighted.   These arrangements   along   with   dedicated   mechanisms   in   the   Indian Missions   abroad   such   as   helpdesks,   shelter   facilities,   online grievance   portals,   and   coordinated   interventions   with   local authorities ensure support for Indian workers facing exploitation or contract violations.

(e & f) The eMigrate portal facilitates emigration process of Indian nationals holding Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports and emigrating to any of the 19 notified ECR countries for employment purpose.   The   web-based   application   makes   the   process   of emigration fully digital, transparent, safe, legal, humane, efficient, convenient,   and   faster.   It   seamlessly   brings   all   stakeholders, including   Foreign   Employers   (FEs),   registered   Recruiting   Agents (RAs) and the prospective emigrants on a common platform and enables   MEA   to   capture   comprehensive   and   online   database.   A dedicated helpline and support system is also available to assist emigrants and other stakeholders to address any query/issue. The advisories/alerts on fake job offers and fraudulent/illegal recruitment agencies are also hosted on the portal. *****