A Jalandhar woman who was trafficked to Dubai and later Muscat on false job promises has been rescued with the intervention of Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal. The victim, who returned to India on June 14, 2026, shared harrowing details of exploitation, including that girls were being sold from one employer to another for amounts ranging from 1,200 to 1,350 Omani Riyals (approximately ₹2.6 to ₹2.9 lakh).
False promises and forced labor
The woman left for Dubai on February 14, 2026, through a girl from her village, lured by a promise of a job with a monthly salary of ₹40,000. However, after arriving in Dubai, travel agents kept her there for a month before sending her to Muscat, Oman. In Muscat, she was forced to perform domestic work from early morning until late at night, with no fixed sleep schedule or rest. She was required to wake up before 5 am daily.
Whenever she expressed a desire to return to India, she faced harsh treatment and physical abuse. She was allowed to speak with her family for only 20 minutes at a time. The premises where she was confined housed several other girls from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and India, many of whom would break down recalling their families and children. Their only wish, she said, was to return home.
Passport confiscation and physical abuse
The victim revealed that upon arrival, girls’ passports and documents are often confiscated, and they are forced to work from early morning until midnight. They are kept virtually confined inside homes or offices, with no permission to rest or go outside. Many girls do not even know the area or city where they are being held. Girls from different countries endure similar suffering, being transferred from one employer to another in exchange for money. Whenever they talk about returning home, they face physical abuse, demands for money, or other harsh treatment.
Family seeks help, MP intervenes
The victim’s family said they approached MP Balbir Singh Seechewal for help on June 4. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Seechewal promptly contacted the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy. As a result, the young woman safely returned to India on June 14. The family expressed gratitude, saying they lived in constant anxiety until their daughter finally returned home safely.
MP calls for action against trafficking
Seechewal said such cases involving young women in Arab countries are extremely alarming and that immediate action is needed to stop human trafficking. He appealed to the public to verify agents and companies before accepting overseas job offers so that no other daughter falls victim to such dark and painful circumstances. The case highlights the ongoing harsh reality of women being trafficked to Arab countries on false job promises.
