**Executive Summary**
The document provides a response to a parliamentary question regarding Indian workers stranded in South East Asian countries due to cyber slavery. It highlights the government's awareness of dubious firms using fake job offers to lure Indian nationals into cybercrime activities, particularly in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Lao PDR. The response details rescue efforts, advisories issued to prospective job seekers, and coordination with state governments and international agencies to combat illegal recruitment. The data provided covers the period up to December 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Issue:**
* Dubious firms use fake job offers via social media to lure Indian nationals to Cambodia, Myanmar, and Lao PDR for cybercrime.
* Indian nationals reach scam centers through fraudulent recruitment agents and illegal channels.
* **Government Action:**
* Government of India prioritizes the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad and has raised the issue with host governments.
* Embassies in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar are involved in rescue and repatriation efforts with local government agencies.
* The government issues advisories and social media posts to caution prospective job seekers to verify recruiting agents and companies.
* Indian Missions/Posts abroad also issue similar advisories.
* **Coordination and Prevention:**
* The Protector General of Emigrants (PGE) coordinates with State Governments regarding illegal recruiting agencies.
* Ministry takes action against exploitation of job seekers by illegal agents.
* A list of 3,505 unregistered recruiting agents (till December 2025) is available on the e-Migrate portal.
* Complaints against illegal agents and firms are shared with State Governments and agencies like 14C and MHA.
* Awareness campaigns are conducted through SMS, social media, radio, and other channels, including cyber safety initiatives.
* **Rescue Data (till December 2025):**
* Cambodia: 44 (2022), 207 (2023), 982 (2024), 1300 (2025)
* Lao PDR: 74 (2022), 244 (2023), 558 (2024), 1501 (2025)
* Myanmar: 338 (2022), 89 (2023), 147 (2024), 1594 (2025)
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Nationals/Prospective Job Seekers**
* **Impact:** Increased awareness of fraudulent job offers and risks of cyber slavery in Southeast Asian countries. Potential for being lured by fake recruiters.
* **Action Required:** Exercise caution when considering job offers from abroad, verify the legitimacy of recruiting agents and companies, and consult advisories issued by the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian Missions.
**Ministry of External Affairs**
* **Impact:** Responsible for coordinating rescue efforts, issuing advisories, and collaborating with State Governments and international agencies.
* **Action Required:** Continue monitoring the situation, strengthen preventive measures, enhance awareness campaigns, and provide assistance to stranded Indian nationals.
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** Required to take action against illegal recruiting agencies operating within their jurisdiction and address the concerns of affected citizens.
* **Action Required:** Collaborate with the Ministry of External Affairs, share information, and take necessary action against illegal agents and firms involved in fraudulent recruitment.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of External Affairs: The primary ministry responsible for addressing the issue of stranded Indian workers abroad and coordinating rescue efforts.
South East Asian Countries: The geographical region where Indian workers are being stranded due to cyber slavery.
Protector General of Emigrants (PGE): A key role within the Ministry of External Affairs responsible for protecting emigrants and coordinating with State Governments on issues related to illegal recruitment.
Lok Sabha: The House in which this question about Indian workers stranded abroad was raised and answered.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 219
ANSWERED ON 13/02/2026
INDIAN WORKERS STRANDED IN SOUTH EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES
*219. Shri Azad Kirti Jha:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether a large number of Indian workers are stranded in South
East Asian Countries due to cyber slavery, if so, the details of
workers currently stranded and rescued during the last five years,
country-wise;
(b) the details of the platforms and mediums adopted by criminals to
lure Indians and actions taken against them;
(c) the measures taken by the Government to prevent Indian citizens
from getting trapped in such situations and penalise the criminals
via international cooperation;
(d) whether the Government has received any complaints of missing
people stranded in those countries, if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to get
bring back Indian Nationals from South East Asia?
1ANSWER
MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(DR. SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR)
(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the table of the House.
2Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of the Lok Sabha
Starred Question No. *219 for reply on 13.02.2026 regarding “Indian
Workers Stranded in South East Asian Countries”
(a) to (e) Government has been made aware of instances of dubious
firms involved in fake recruitment job offers having lured Indian
nationals mostly through social media channels to South-East Asian
countries including Cambodia, Myanmar and Lao PDR and made
them to carry out cyber crime and other fraudulent activities from
scam centres operating in these countries. The exact number of
Indian nationals stranded in these countries is not known as Indian
nationals reach these scam centres on their own volition through
fraudulent/unscrupulous recruitment agents/agencies and through
illegal channels.
Government accords utmost priority to the safety, security and well-
being of Indian nationals abroad. Government of India has raised this
issue at political level with the concerned host Governments from
time to time. Whenever such issues come to light, Missions/Posts
take up the challenge of rescue and repatriation of Indian nationals
actively with the local Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other
3concerned Government agencies of the host country like
Immigration, Labour Department, Home Affairs, Defence and Border
Affairs and law enforcement agencies. As a result of concerted
efforts of our Embassies in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar, a
number of Indian nationals have been rescued in the last four years
(till December 2025). Details are mentioned in the table below:
S.No. Country No. of Indian Nationals rescued
2022 2023 2024 2025
1 Cambodia 44 207 982 1,300
2 Lao PDR 74 244 558 1,501
3 Myanmar 338 89 147 1,594
Ministry issues advisories and social media posts about the fake job
rackets from time to time, advising prospective job seekers to verify
all antecedents of recruiting agents and companies before accepting
any kind of employment offer and cautioning them against being
enticed and entrapped in fraudulent job offers in these countries.
Similar advisories are also issued by the respective Indian
Missions/Posts abroad through their official websites, social media
handles and other publicity efforts.
4The Protector General of Emigrants (PGE) in the Ministry of
External Affairs through 16 Protector of Emigrants (PoEs) across
India, regularly coordinates with the State Governments regarding
issues of illegal recruiting agencies and the ways to address
challenges related to enforcement of emigration rules and
regulations. Ministry, in coordination with the Indian Missions/Posts
abroad and offices of Protectors of Emigrants in India, takes quick
and decisive action whenever instances of exploitation of job
seekers by illegal agents come to notice. A list of 3,505 unregistered
recruiting agents (till December 2025) has been published on e-
Migrate portal to caution prospective emigrants. This information is
regularly updated based on the complaints filed by the aggrieved
individuals and based on the inputs received from our Missions/Posts
abroad. The complaint against the illegal agents and the dubious
firms luring Indian youth in false recruitment offers through various
channels are regularly shared with the respective State
Governments and other agencies such as I4C, MHA for suitable
action. The Government of India has taken steps to spread
awareness which include dissemination of relevant information
through SMS, I4C social media account, radio campaigns, engaged
MyGov for publicity in multiple channels, organizing cyber safety and
5security awareness weeks in association with States/UTs,
newspaper advertisement on digital arrest scams, announcements
in Delhi Metros on digital arrest, and other modus operandi of cyber
crimes.
*****
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