With an increase in the number of cases of Indians being cheated by agents promising lucrative jobs, India and Malaysia are considering an accord to streamline recruitment of workers.
Disclosing this in Kuala Lumpur, Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed said on Thursday that the proposed memorandum of understanding on recruitment will help both the employees and employers.
The Indian government, on its part, would ensure that such agents who cheat innocent people were blacklisted and severely punished, said the minister, who during his three-day visit held talks with top Malaysian leaders including Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi.
"The unscrupulous agents will be punished, the police will take action in accordance with law. All states have been cautioned by the Centre to keep a strict watch on such agents," Ahamed told PTI.
Last week 45 persons from Punjab and Gujarat, who were promised jobs in a supermarket in Malaysia by their agent, were left camping outside the Indian high commission after they escaped from their employer . They were being ill-treated and the employer was not paying them the promised salary.
Several agents have been blacklisted by the high commission in Kuala Lumpur.
The minister, in his talks with his counterpart Syed Hamid Albar, reviewed bilateral ties besides discussing various regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Ahamed said he had sought Malaysia's support to India's candidature for permanent seat on the UN Security Council. "Our assessment is that when the time comes Malaysia will take the appropriate decision, which will be helpful to us," he said.
