The Indian government has counselled utmost caution to Indian nationals about certain IT sector jobs being offered in Thailand as many people have been taken illegally to the interior of Myanmar.
“We would like to urge Indian nationals to exercise restraint, extreme caution I would say, before taking up such job offers. It may also be mentioned here that the visa on arrival scheme in Thailand, which allows you to get entry into Thailand does not permit employment,” MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi has said.
He further said, “….So if somebody’s offering you such an opportunity that is illegal.”
Bagchi explained while answering questions during the weekly briefing on Thursday that such companies are “operating through agents in Dubai, Bangkok and India”.
“They are recruiting Indian workers on the pretext of employment opportunities in Thailand, usually as what we are hearing is in the IT sector there. The workers are lured by social media advertisements of highly lucrative data entry jobs in, as I mentioned, in Thailand. Unfortunately, these workers are then taken illegally across the border, into the Myawaddy area of Myanmar. And that area as you know is difficult to access due to the local security situation,” he said.
Myawaddy area in southeastern Myanmar’s Kayin state bordering Thailand is not fully under the control of the Myanmarese government and certain ethnic armed groups hold sway over it.
Asked about the Indians trapped there, MEA spokesperson Bagchi told reporters: “Some fraudulent IT companies appear to be engaged in digital scamming and forged crypto activities. They seem to be operating through agents in Dubai, Bangkok and India”.
The workers are lured by social media advertisements of highly lucrative data entry jobs in Thailand, he said.
However, thanks to the efforts of Indian missions in Myanmar and in Thailand, the rescue of some of these victims from captivity or forced labour has been facilitated and efforts are being made to help others.
As many as 32 Indians have been rescued.
“I don’t want to comment on the exact numbers because that’s still an evolving thing, but at least 32 have come out of that. That’s broadly what I had to say,” he said.
Khalistan Referendum a ‘farcical exercise’:
The MEA has stated that the so-called ‘Khalistan referendum’ being organised in countries such as Canada is a “farcical exercise”.
“Basically we would term it as a farcical exercise. The farcical exercise was held by the extremists and radical elements supporting the so-called Khalistan referendum in Canada and elsewhere I think. The matter has been taken up with the Canadian authorities through diplomatic channels,” MEA spokesman Bagchi said.
He said, “The government of Canada has reiterated that they respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, and that they will not recognize the so-called referendum, which is taking place in Canada. However, we find it deeply objectionable that politically motivated exercises by extremist elements are allowed to take place in a friendly country”.
He further said, ” You are all aware of the history of violence in this regard. And the government of India will continue to press the government of Canada on this matter”.
