The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) has urged authorities to impose strict scrutiny on foreign job advertisements issued by travel agencies in Punjab. This comes after individuals are promised high-paying jobs but are left abandoned in transit.
Satnam Singh Chahal, executive director of the US-based NAPA, stressed that every year, hundreds of young Punjabis, driven by aspirations for a better life abroad, become yet another victim of the unorganised system of travel agents, who mostly operate under the radar. These agents, he explained, often function through elaborate networks and attract naive individuals with flashy advertisements placed across newspapers, social media platforms, and local television channels.
“They are promised high-paying jobs abroad, but instead, many are abandoned in transit countries or forced into inhumane conditions. These agents charge anywhere between Rs 20 and 50 lakh, pushing families into lifelong debt,” he said.
He further alleged that unscrupulous agents are not limited preying on aspiring residents of Punjab, but also operate from major urban centres such as New Delhi. This, he argued, has resulted in a parallel economy built on deception and exploitation.
Suggested solutions: Tracking systems and accountability
There must be a system in place to scrutinise whether a travel agent has valid licenses and legal authorisations to offer jobs overseas,” Chahal urged. He recommended that all job-related advertisements published by travel agencies be vetted by regulatory bodies, including the Protector of Emigrants and local police departments.
He suggested the implementation of digital tracking and mechanisms that can report the actions of such dishonest agents, emphasizing the need for more stringent oversight. This solution however, must be functional across state and international borders. Chahal warned that unchecked irregular migration not only harms individuals but also damages the reputation of the wider Indian diaspora.
“There are countless cases of Punjabi youths being jailed in Mexico, Panama, and other Latin American countries while en route to the USA or Canada. The rampant violation of their basic human rights in these regions is alarming,” he added.
“Transit and destination countries must treat such migrants as victims rather than criminals. Stronger international cooperation is required to dismantle human trafficking syndicates,” he said.
Additionally, he suggested establishing a comprehensive national and international database to monitor illegal migration patterns and urged the Indian government to run awareness campaigns in rural and semi-urban regions, where residents are most vulnerable to these fraudulent practices.