External Affairs Ministry urged to take tough action against fake recruitment agencies

Expressing concern over increase in the number of youth from Dakshina Kannada and other parts of country getting trapped in ‘digital slavery’ abroad, Member of Parliament Brijesh Chowta has urged the External Affairs Ministry to take tough action against fake recruitment agencies sending youth to West Asia and other nations from where cyber criminals entrap Indian youth into ‘digital slavery’.

During his meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Delhi on Friday, Capt. Chowta spoke about the recent rescue of five youth of Mangaluru from Cambodia.

Two recruitment firms sent the youth to Nepal, from where they were taken to Cambodia, where their original documents were snatched and they were forced to do digital frauds after being held in a small room. Based on the complaint by rescued victims, Mangaluru police registered a case against owners of the two recruitment firms.

While explaining about the pitiable conditions under which the rescued youth were found in Cambodia, the MP expressed concern over increase in the number youth from rural and semi-urban areas, travelling to West Asian counties in search of jobs, falling pray to fake recruitment agencies. He urged the Union Minister to take strict action to regulate fake overseas recruitment agencies. Mr. Jaishankar responded positively and assured of steps for safety of Indians abroad, the MP stated in a press release.

The MP said he has requested the External Affairs Ministry to focus on pre-departure counselling, awareness campaigns about fake agencies, and strengthening coordination with recruitment agencies. The MP said he has also appealed for enhancing monitoring mechanisms in high-risk countries.