The deceived plumbers at the Kendrapara district collectorate. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, May 15: Authorities here have sounded a note of caution for the foreign-bound skilled labourers while issuing a dos and don’ts advisory.

After the anti-human-traffic wing of Delhi Police’s crime branch wing had arrested the proprietor of a bogus job placement agency, administration here today issued advisory notes to curb such practices.

“For those undertaking overseas job trips, it has been mandatory for them to submit travel details and information on their prospective employers in foreign countries. They have been asked to share particulars on the placement agencies and labour contractors with the district administration. They are also being directed to disseminate the related details with the nearest police station,” said Kendrapara collector Pradipta Kumar Pattnaik.

The intention is to save the job seekers from getting deceived by fake placement agencies. As the district is the churning ground of skilled human resources, especially in plumbing sectors, many from here make their way to foreign countries. The plumbers of Kendrapara have global presence. “Therefore, at the backdrop of recent act of defrauding, we have taken measures so that the gullible people are not cheated any more,” Pattnaik said.

District labour officer Pradeep Kumar Mohanty said: “On directions of the district collector, I had rushed to Delhi and brought back the deceived plumbers homes. I, on behalf of the district administration, had taken up the matter with the anti-human trafficking wing of the Delhi Police’s crime branch unit. We are happy to know that the kingpin of the racket was arrested today.”

“Those plumbers and other skilled labourers, who move to foreign countries, do not come under purview of the Inter-State Migrant Workers’ Act. That’s why, we are not in a position to keep track of them. As the immigration of this nature is dealt with the ministry of home affairs and external affairs, the state labour department does not have any control over the placement agencies for all practical purpose. However, we hope that the migrant labourers, by sharing information with the administration here, could be helped out from such crisis. The state government would at least timely take up their plight with the Union ministries,” Mohanty said.

It may be recalled here that a group of about 20 skilled plumbers had fallen prey to a Delhi-based bogus job placement agency, getting deceived of lifetime savings in the process.

They were forced to part with their fat salary jobs in civil war-torn Libya. The dubious farm, whose owner was arrested today, had taken away Rs 1.20 lakh from each of them for a job in London. However, later they found out that they had been taken for a ride by the agency.

On landing Delhi, the job seekers were shocked to find that their visa, work permit and flight ticket were forged and fake ones.