N.K. Premachandran, MP, has said that with employment opportunities in the Gulf decreasing, a Malaysia-based recruitment racket was thriving in the State and the number of youngsters falling victims to such rackets was rising by the day.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Mr. Premachandran along with three such victims, who had returned after a harrowing experience in Malaysia, said they were part of a 22-member group “recruited” by a Kundara-based agent for a Kuala Lumpur-based power plant. Each had paid Rs.1.25 lakh to the agent for getting the job.
They were taken by flight from Trichy airport in Tamil Nadu on February 23 to Malaysia. But instead of Kuala Lumpur, they were taken to Kuching where they were detained because they did not have proper documents for employment in that country. These were not provided by the agent, they alleged. While only nine returned the others are still held up in Malaysia. Those who returned lodged a complaint against the agent with the Kundara police. Though the agent was arrested, he was released within hours, they said.
'Take strong measures'
Mr. Premachandran called for strong measures by the government to protect those seeking jobs abroad.
