panaji starry eyed at the prospect of landing a job abroad joe from panaji approached a recruitment agent only to suffer a rude shock after the socalled agent decamped with his money passport and other documents cases like this have become increasingly common in the state and since 2000 176 cases have been registered against illegal recruiting agents with almost 30 of the cases against agents operating in margao panaji and vasco make up for around 12 of the cases eachwith a large population of goans looking to work abroad especially in the gulf countries several illegal recruiting agents targeting unsuspecting youth have mushroomed in the statewhile joe lost rs 10000 against the promise of a job in the hotel line in dubai in another instance eight people who were recruited from goa and sent to maputo mozambique were forced to return after they did not get the promised jobs a case was registered again an agent in sanguem who ran a business in quepemosd to the nri commission in goa u d kamat said it is important for those looking for jobs abroad to approach only those recruiting agents registered with the protector general of emigrants under section 10 of the emigration act 1983 under the act agents credentials are verified and they have to deposit a bank guarantee of rs 50 lakh following which they receive a registration certificate rc and are called registered recruitment agents ras kamat saidgoa has only four registered recruiting agents as on june 1 kamat said and added travel agents sometimes illegally double up as recruiting agents in other cases the illegal agents claim they are subagents of registered recruiting agents in other states but the emigration act doesnt provide for any subagentsthe cheating happens under many guisesin 2011 the nri commission filed a case against an illegal agent in madel margao for releasing an advertisement for employment abroad and for recruiting 20 women including eight from goa with false promises of minimum salary food accommodation and medical cover and eventually duping themcitizens have also been duped after paying registration and processing fees where some have been given fake visas and even sent on tourist visas and promised employment but deserted abroadrecently a meeting was held in new delhi to address the issue of illegal recruiting agents at the meeting which was chaired by minister for external affairs sushma swaraj and attended by indian ambassadors of the gulf countries and representatives from various states including goa swaraj appealed to the state governments and enforcement agencies to launch prosecution against these illegal agents for overcharging cheating and duping job seekersshe said many who went through illegal agents were deserted abroad or forced to work on lesser salaries than contracted besides facing harassment and mental torture at the meeting it was also pointed out that illegal agents not only fail to provide relief to those in distress but also threaten family members of the victim the ministry stated that it is easier to rescue emigrants