Question : ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

(a) whether a large number of illegal placement agencies are functioning in the country particularly in the metro cities without any regulations and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether such illegal placement agencies continue to exploit minors from other States by employing them at household work and also extracting money from unemployed persons in the name of providing jobs and are also involved in human trafficking ;

(c) if so, the details of action taken against such illegal placement agencies during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(d) whether the Government proposes to review the existing laws/guidelines to check exploitation by the placement agencies effectively; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE(IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a) to (c): Ministry of Labour and Employment has issued guidelines on 30.10.2003 to the State Governments and Union Territory (UT) Administrations to consider regulation of the functioning of Private Placement Agencies. Subsequently, the Ministry requested State and UTs, in October 2010, to register placement agencies providing domestic workers specifically under Shops & Establishments Act. Information on placement agencies is not maintained centrally.

(d) & (e): The Ministry has entrusted a Study on ILO convention 181 regarding Private Placement Agencies to V.V. Giri National Labour Institute. The scope of study includes a gap analysis of existing legal frame work at both National and State level.