Job seekers being duped by travel agents: Study

“Around 52 per cent of the average cost of emigration consists of money paid to recruiting agents,” the study ‘Goa Migration Survey’ conducted by Kerala-based Centre for Developmental Studies on behalf of Goa’s Department of Non Resident Indian Affairs,said.

Goa NRI commissioner Eduardo Faleiro,who is also a former union minister of state for external affairs,on Tuesday released the 200-page study which stresses the need to regulate the fake travel agents recruiting gullible youths for jobs abroad and later dupe them.

“We are aware that some recruiting agents charge exorbitant fees,which is much above the norms fixed by the Government of India and offer terms which are highly unrealistic and which they know are not going to be honoured,” Faleiro told reporters in Panaji.

Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi has also voiced concern over youths hoping to secure overseas jobs being duped. It has come to the Centre’s notice that some ‘illegal groups’ sending students abroad for education were operating in South India like the fake job recruitment agents,Ravi said in Thiruvanthapuram.

The NRI Commissioner said the commissionerate has suggested amendment to Tourism and Trade Act so that the travel agencies without authorisation cannot recruit job aspirants.

“The Emigrant Act,1983 needs to be amended with emphasis on regulation and deterrent punishment and the Government of India is taking the necessary steps in this regard,” Faleioro said.

He said there are about 20 cases filed by duped job seekers in different police stations of Goa but the progress in bringing the culprits to book has been slow.