RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1349
ANSWERED ON- 11/12/2025
REPATRIATION OF INDIANS TRAPPED IN INTERNATIONAL TRAFFICKING
1349. SHRI SANT BALBIR SINGH
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-
(a) the mechanisms currently in place through Indian Embassies/Missions to promptly locate, assist and rescue Indian nationals trapped in trafficking or forced-labour situations abroad;
(b) whether Government has established any special task force, helpline or coordination system with State governments and law-enforcement agencies for quicker reporting and intervention in such cases; and
(c) the steps taken to ensure safe repatriation, rehabilitation and reintegration of victims and to strengthen monitoring of overseas recruitment agents to prevent recurrence of such incidents?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a to c) Government accords highest 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 19 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 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. Nodal officers have been appointed by respective State Governments for information sharing between the office of the Protector of Emigrants and the State authorities. 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 2025, a total of 3,505 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.
The responsibility of reintegration of returned Indian migrants rests with the State governments from where the emigrants belong. Various State Governments have developed ways and means to reintegrate workers returning from abroad.
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