The State government has decided to take up a special drive against the fake agents of overseas employment as part of the measures to prevent human trafficking and ensure safe expatriation, for better livelihood.
At a review meeting held here on Saturday by NRI Affairs Minister K.T. Rama Rao and Labour Minister N. Narsimha Reddy, it was decided to give a time of one month for registration to all agents in the e-migrate system and those who fail to register, their agency during the period would be treated as fake agency and criminal action would be initiated against them.
The meeting, attended by the officials from Home, NRI and Labour Departments, was conducted to implement the decisions taken at a meeting held by the External Affairs Ministry last week, to check the activities of fake employment agents. It was decided to act tough against the fake agents who were cashing in on the weakness of those seeking overseas employment, particularly in the Gulf.
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The government would register cases under the provisions of Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act against the agents who would indulge in fake visa activities to send the gullible overseas job-seekers. Director General of Police M. Mahender Reddy stated that the Police Department would soon issue guidelines on the action to be taken against fake employment agents.
The Ministers appealed to overseas job-seekers to go abroad either through Telangana Overseas Manpower Company Ltd. or registered agents. Foundation stone for the NRI Bhavan in the city would be laid in the second week of February, they stated, adding that joint coordination teams would be formed to prevent human trafficking.
In another meeting, Mr. Rama Rao, directed the District Collectors to hold meetings with bankers every month to help small scale industries, by convincing the bankers not to declare the units as sick for slight delay in the repayment of loan.
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