MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday acknowledged the growing threat posed by fraudulent recruitment agencies operating in Goa and appealed to the public, especially the youth, to verify the credentials of agencies before engaging with them.
Speaking in the Assembly, Sawant said only nine recruitment agencies are officially registered in the State, while most others operate illegally and deceive unsuspecting job seekers.
“Many of these agencies are unregistered and bogus. Youth often don’t verify their credentials and end up handing over large sums of money, falling prey to false promises,” he said.
He noted that very few victims come forward to lodge complaints, and in many cases, people eventually compromise, letting the matter slide.
“The government is committed to taking strict action, but public cooperation is essential,” the Chief Minister added.
The issue was raised during the session by Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar, who highlighted the deceptive practices of some agencies, especially those promising overseas employment. “These agencies are reportedly charging exorbitant fees, giving misleading job information, and failing to honor contractual commitments,” Amonkar said, urging the government to step up monitoring and enforcement.
Echoing the concern, Goa Forward Party chief and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai alleged the existence of a “syndicate” targeting vulnerable youth desperate for jobs abroad.
“These unregistered agencies charge anywhere between Rs 11 lakh to Rs 15 lakh from job aspirants. This is a direct fallout of Goa’s high unemployment rate. The government must act swiftly and blacklist such operators,” Sardesai demanded.
Revolutionary Goans Party MLA Viresh Borkar emphasised the need for widespread public awareness to prevent such exploitation. “This situation arises because we cannot generate sufficient employment within Goa,” Borkar said.
Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral highlighted the administrative challenge, pointing out that the Protector of Emigrants (POE) for Goa is based in Karnataka. He called for the establishment of a sub-office within Goa to streamline grievance redressal.
Congress MLA Carlos Ferreira proposed that all recruitment agencies be mandated to publicly display their registration numbers. “If an agency does not display its credentials, the police must act against them immediately,” he said.
Responding to the legislators, Chief Minister Sawant outlined the steps already taken to address the issue.
Between 2022 and June 30, 2025, Goa Police registered 15 criminal cases under the Indian Penal Code and the Emigration Act, 1963, against unregistered recruitment agents. So far, 15 people have been arrested, with several cases still under investigation or pending trial.
Sawant said the government had adopted a multi-pronged approach to curb illegal practices. This includes publicising arrests through the media, conducting awareness campaigns in schools and communities, and organising regular police-public interaction meetings to sensitise citizens.
