17 Indians lured to work in Laos are being brought back: Jaishankar

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday that 17 Indian workers who were lured into unsafe and illegal work in Laos are being brought back to India, PTI reported.

He appreciated the Indian embassy in Laos for their successful efforts to bring the workers back home.

"Modi ki Guarantee works for all at home and abroad. Seventeen Indian workers, lured into unsafe and illegal work in Laos, are on their way back home," Jaishankar wrote on X. "Well done, @IndianEmbLaos. Thank Lao authorities for their support for the safe repatriation."

On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs cautioned Indian nationals from falling to human traffickers promising lucrative job opportunities in Cambodia.

The ministry issued an advisory and asked Indians looking for job opportunities in the southeast Asian country to make thorough background checks about their prospective employer.

"It has come to attention that Indian nationals, lured by fake promises of lucrative job opportunities in Cambodia, are falling into the trap of human traffickers," the advisory said. "Indian nationals intending to visit Cambodia for employment are cautioned to do so only through authorised agents. It is also advised that the background of the prospective employer in Cambodia is checked thoroughly."

It said that these Indian nationals are "coerced" to undertake online financial scams and other illegal activities.

Meanwhile, the ministry had sent a batch of 60 construction workers to Israel, where signs of potential escalation of conflict is seen. The despatch of the workers happened even after the Centre itself had rescued Indian nationals when the war broke out between Israel and Hamas last October.

When the ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked about sending Indian workers to a conflict zone, he replied that the agreement predates the conflict and New Delhi is conscious of their safety. The government has urged the Israeli administration to ensure the workers' safety and well-being, he said.