MINISTER IN THE MINISTRY OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS (VAYALAR RAVI)
(a) to (g): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No.66
to be answered on 22nd February 2006.
(a)The State-wise and Year-wise total number of agencies which have
been issued Registration Certificates for providing employment opportunities
abroad during the last three years i.e. 2003, 2004 and 2005 are given in the
statement at Annexure-I.
(b) By and large, these Recruiting Agencies are working as per provisions of the
Emigration Act, 1983 and Rules framed thereunder.
(c & d) Yes Sir. Complaints have been received against certain agencies from
various quarters including Indian Missions in the Gulf Countries, alleging ill-
treatment of Indian workers. These complaints relate to non-payment/reduced
payment of salary, overcharging by the Recruiting Agents, non-availability of
promised jobs, substitution of employment contract, non receiving of the workers
by their employer at the airport of destination, impounding of passports and work
permits by the employer, physical and mental torture and sexual exploitation of
housemaids/domestic workers, harsh punishment like flogging/caning etc. in some
countries, maltreatment and exploitation by the foreign employer and adverse working
conditions.
(e)During 2003, 2004 and 2005, 3, 24, 28 Registration Certificates have been
suspended and 2, 2 and 16 Registration Certificates have been cancelled .
(f)&(g) Yes Sir. Existing Section 24 of the Emigration Act, 1983 provides for mandatory
imprisonment for a minimum period of six months and a minimum fine of Rs. 1000/- in
respect of agencies engaged in illegal recruitment. All offences under the Act are cognizable
under Section 26 of the Act. During the year 2003, 2004 and 2005 prosecution sanctions
have been given in 11,9 and 8 cases respectively. The Act is proposed to be amended to
provide more deterrent punishment and harsher penalties to the illegal recruitment agencies.
ANNEXURE-I
Annexure refer to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 66 part (a) to be
answered on 22nd February, 2006
Sl. No. Name of State / UT Year- Year- Year- 2003 2004 2005
1. Maharashtsra 92 79 62
2. Delhi 54 57 57
3. Tamil Nadu 21 25 42
4. Kerala 25 29 38
5. Punjab 17 27 24
6. Andhra Pradesh 08 16 18
7 Chandigarh 06 13 12
8. Karnataka- 02 11 10
9. Rajasthan- 03 11 11
10. Uttar Pradesh 04 04 02
11. Goa 03 05 04
12. Gujarat 06 03 08
13. West Bengal 03 05 02
14. Haryana - 02 04 04
15. Madhya Pradesh - - 01
16. Orissa 01 - -
17. Jammu & Kashmir 02 01 -
18. Uttaranchal - - 01
19. Himachal Pradesh - 01 -
20. Mizoram - - 02 -
Total 249 293 296
