Duped Indian women in Albania rescued, says official

NRI Commissioner Eduardo Faleiro said that a Goa-based agent conned the women, who were part of a group of 20, from India, who were sent to Albania to work in a bag manufacturing workshop.

"All 20 women were sent to Albania by a Goa-based agent and we will act against him, once we receive complaint from the victims," the NRI Commissioner said appealing the women to lodge a complaint.

He said that the agent 'cheated' the women by assuring them to pay 20 US dollars per day but were actually paid 2 US dollars.

"They were dumped in a dark room without food for days together when they protested against the lower pay scale," Faleiro said.

"We don't have an embassy in Albania so I contacted Secretary and Joint secretary in charge of Central Europe in our Ministry of External affairs," said Faleiro, former Union minister of state for external affairs.

He said 17 women were repatriated to India so far by the Union government while remaining three preferred to stay back in Albania.

Faleiro expressed concern over growing instances of fraud by some unscrupulous recruiting agents saying the NRI commissionerate has decided to put in place a committee that would oversee such cases.

These agents are not booked with Protector General of Immigrants and many a times, travel agents double up as recruitment agents, he added.