KATHMANDU: Weakness in law enforcement is the cause behind rampant fraud in foreign employment, said victims and officials. In the first annual general meeting of All Nepal Foreign Employment Victims and Consultancy (ANFEVC) here today, they urged the government to enforce the Foreign Employment Act seriously to curb the growing number of scams. The Ministry of Labour and Transport Management (MoLTM) and Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) must be active for protecting the interests of the people rather than outsourcing agencies, said Janak Bartaula, general secretary of ANFEVC. “Weak law and security situation is causing anarchy in the foreign employment sector,” he said. He warned the foreign employment agencies, saying, “If they do not mend their ways, a time will come when the victims will drag them out into the streets and punish them.” ANFEVC, registered in 2009, has been providing support to victims of fraud by manpower agencies. So far, it has brought 35 outsourcing agencies to book and compensated hundreds of victims. Resunga International Pvt Ltd (RIPL)’s fraud case is a major one settled by the organization. The outsourcing agency cheated Rs 300 million from five dozen Nepali foreign job aspirants in the name of sending them to Macau. Pushkar Nepal, section officer at DoFE, urged ANFEVC to organize regular mass awareness campaigns to reduce the chances of fraud. “If people are aware, there will be less possibility of their getting cheated,” he pointed out. He advised people to collect receipt of payment, labour contract and passport to avoid harassment. “DoFE will repay your money if there is some proof,” he assured. Around 2.6 million Nepalis are working in destination countries — Malaysia and Gulf countries — but half of them are illegal migrants. “Most victims are illegal migrant workers who are bound for Gulf countries via India,” said Sthaneshwor Devkota, acting director of Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB). He also stressed on starting awareness raising campaign in poor communities. FEPB and DoFE are planning to start a mass-scale awareness campaign in the fiscal year 2009-10, he added. Devaki Dahal, a woman rescued from Lebanon by ANFEVC, described her suffering saying she was not paid even though she worked for 18 hours daily as a housemaid. “The house owner even tried to rape me,” she wept in front of the delegates. JB Shah, a victim of outsourcing agencies, blamed DoFE saying that its attitude was not labour friendly. “If you can’t give bribe, officials of the DoFE will not forward your file,” he said, urging ANFEVC to work as watch dog over foreign employment agencies and the department.