Overseas jobs: 2 agencies booked for illegal hiring

Mangaluru: In a crackdown on illegal overseas recruitment activities, Avaneesh Shukla, the protector of emigrants (POE) for Karnataka and Goa, under the ministry of external affairs, visited Mangaluru on Thursday after receiving credible information regarding unauthorised interviews being conducted for overseas job placements. Two separate cases of illegal recruitment came to light in the city.

Shukla said action was taken in close coordination with the Mangaluru City police as part of their ongoing efforts to ensure safe and legal migration for Indian citizens within their jurisdiction. Upon receiving information that a recruitment drive was about to take place in Bendoorwell, Shukla immediately travelled to Mangaluru. By the time he reached, the planned interviews were postponed. However, the investigation revealed that the agency in question, identified as Z-Zone Consultancy, was operating without the mandatory licence required under the Emigration Act, 1983. A police case was already registered against Z-Zone Consultancy. The POE confirmed that this agency was attempting to recruit individuals for jobs overseas without valid authorisation from the ministry of external affairs.

Another agency operating out of Pumpwell, which was active on social media platforms for the past six months, was also caught engaging in similar illegal activities. The agency advertised jobs in Europe, Israel, Mauritius, and Gulf countries. Following a joint raid with the police, officials confiscated various documents, including application forms that listed destinations applied for, as well as biodatas of candidates. The agency's Instagram and other social media handles were found flooded with advertisements promising overseas job opportunities. An FIR was registered against this agency as well, making this the third case in the last six months to be booked under the Emigration Act in Karnataka, Shukla said.

Prior to these two recent cases, a similar action was taken against another agency named Hireglow Elegant Overseas International Private Limited, also located in Bendoorwell. He requested citizens to verify the legitimacy of any recruitment agency either from the nearest PoE office or from www.emigrate.gov.in before engaging with them. Under Section 10 of the Emigration Act, 1983, no individual or organisation in India is permitted to carry out recruitment for overseas employment without a valid certificate issued by the ministry of external affairs.