13 Indian nationals, who were ensnared in illegal employment in Laos, have been successfully rescued and are in the process of being repatriated to India, as confirmed by the Indian embassy in Laos on Sunday.
Last month, a group of 17 Indian workers was similarly rescued and repatriated from Laos to India.
“In our unwavering commitment to safeguard the safety and well-being of Indian nationals as a top priority, the Embassy has successfully orchestrated the rescue and repatriation of 13 Indian citizens, including 7 workers from Odisha employed at a wood factory in the Attapeu province, and 6 Indian youths from the Golden Triangle SEZ in Bokeo province of Laos,” stated the Indian embassy through its official communication channels.
The embassy further expressed gratitude towards the cooperation extended by the Lao authorities in facilitating these rescue operations, emphasizing that a total of 428 Indian nationals have been rescued from Laos thus far.
Additionally, the embassy issued a cautionary appeal to Indian nationals seeking employment opportunities in Laos to exercise utmost caution and vigilance to avoid falling prey to fraudulent or illicit job offers.
“For Indian workers contemplating opportunities in Laos/Lao PDR, it is imperative to refrain from jeopardizing their safety by succumbing to deceptive or unlawful employment offers, including those related to cyber scams,” emphasized the embassy.
The advisory reiterated the embassy’s earlier cautionary notice issued on May 7, highlighting instances of Indian nationals being enticed into fraudulent employment schemes operating through Thailand. These deceptive job offers, often associated with call-centre scams and cryptocurrency frauds, particularly within the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos, have been a cause for concern.
The embassy underscored the modus operandi of these illicit recruitment practices, wherein individuals are recruited through agents operating in various locations, including Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore, and India. Subsequently, victims are illegally transported across borders and subjected to exploitative and coercive labour conditions.
Instances of Indian workers being exploited in low-wage sectors such as mining and wood factories have also been reported, with many falling victim to human trafficking and forced labour practices.
The advisory concluded by urging Indian nationals to exercise due diligence and caution while exploring employment opportunities abroad, emphasizing the importance of verifying the credibility of prospective employers to mitigate the risk of falling prey to fraudulent recruitment tactics.
