Thirteen Indians, who were ensnared into illicit employment in Laos, have been liberated and are en route to their homeland, as disclosed by the Indian embassy in the Southeast Asian nation on Sunday.
Earlier last month, 17 Indian laborers were salvaged in Laos and safely repatriated to India.
“In our ongoing commitment to prioritize the safety and welfare of Indians, the Embassy has effectively rescued and repatriated 13 Indians, including 7 individuals from Odisha working at a timber factory in Attapeu province, and 6 Indian youths from the Golden Triangle SEZ in Bokeo province, Laos,” the Indian embassy conveyed on ‘X’.
In our continued work to ensure safety & well-being of Indians as matter of top priority, Embassy successfully rescues & repatriates 13 Indians, incl. 7 Odiya workers from a wood factory in Attapeu province, & 6 Indian youth frm Golden Triangle SEZ,Bokeo province of Laos (Contd.) pic.twitter.com/CGSvBVX7NB
— India in Laos (@IndianEmbLaos) May 26, 2024
“Thus far, the Embassy has facilitated the rescue of 428 Indians from Lao PDR. We extend our gratitude to the Lao authorities for their cooperation,” it added.
Furthermore, the embassy urged Indian citizens seeking employment in Laos to exercise utmost caution to avoid falling prey to fraudulent or unlawful job offers.
“For Indian nationals considering opportunities in Laos/Lao PDR, it is imperative not to compromise your safety by succumbing to deceptive or illegal employment offers, including those related to cyber scams,” the embassy emphasized.
On May 7, the embassy issued an advisory warning Indian citizens about deceptive employment offers.
“We have recently observed instances wherein Indian nationals are being enticed with employment prospects through Thailand,” the advisory noted.
“These deceptive offers often pertain to positions such as ‘Digital Sales and Marketing Executives’ or ‘Customer Support Service’ with dubious companies involved in call-center scams and cryptocurrency fraud within the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos,” the advisory highlighted.
The embassy highlighted that agents in locations such as Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore, and India, affiliated with these enterprises, are recruiting Indians through simple interviews and tests.
“Victims are illegally transported across the border from Thailand into Laos and subjected to forced labor within the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, under harsh and oppressive conditions,” the advisory stated.
The embassy further disclosed instances of Indian workers being brought to Laos for employment in various sectors like mining and timber factories, where they are often exploited and coerced into unlawful activities.
“Numerous Indians have been rescued from such dire circumstances,” the embassy affirmed.
Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs cautioned Indian nationals against falling victim to human traffickers promising lucrative job prospects in Cambodia.
In its advisory, the ministry urged Indians considering employment opportunities in the Southeast Asian nation to meticulously scrutinize the background of prospective employers.
