News Brief
'Modi Ki Guarantee Works For All': EAM Jaishankar Says As India Brings Back 17 Nationals Lured Into Illegal Jobs In Laos
Pic Via Twitter
Seventeen Indian workers, who were lured into unsafe and illegal work in Laos, are on their way back home, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday (6 April).
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Jaishankar said, "Modi ki Guarantee works for all at home and abroad. 17 Indian workers, lured into unsafe and illegal work in Laos, are on their way back home".
"Well done, @IndianEmbLaos. Thank Lao authorities for their support for the safe repatriation," he added.
Earlier, India's Embassy in Laos had issued an advisory, cautioning Indian nationals against falling prey to human traffickers promising lucrative job opportunities in Thailand or Lao People’s Democratic Republic – also known as Laos.
"Instances have come to our notice recently wherein Indian nationals are being lured for employment in Thailand or Lao People’s Democratic Republic – also known as Laos, particularly for the posts of ‘Digital Sales and Marketing Executives’ or ‘Customer Support Service’ by dubious companies involved in call-centre scams and crypto-currency fraud in Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos," the advisory said.
"Agents in Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore and India associated with these firms are recruiting Indian nationals by taking a simple interview and the typing test, and are offering high salaries, hotel bookings alongwith return air tickets and visa facilitation," it added.
The Embassy said that the victims are illegally taken across the border into Laos from Thailand and held captive to work in Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos under harsh and restrictive conditions.
Visa on Arrival in Thailand or Laos does not permit employment and the Lao authorities do not issue work permits to Indian nationals coming to Laos on such visas, it added.
"There has been increase in instances of many Indian nationals falling in trap of human traffickers/agents who are lured into Laos for bright future prospects but ultimately falling in traps or taken hostages by criminal syndicates indulging in illegal activities and forced to work in strenuous conditions under constant physical and mental torture," the Embassy said.
A number of Indians have been rescued under very difficult conditions, it added.
"Indian nationals are advised not to get enticed and entrapped in such fraudulent job offers and are requested to exercise extreme caution and verify the antecedents of recruiting agents as well as any company before taking up any job offer in Laos," the Embassy said.
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