The Mizoram government is set to introduce a new bill aimed at regulating private agencies involved in sending local youth abroad for jobs, following concerns over illegal placements in foreign countries. The Mizoram Private Placement Agencies (Regulation) Bill, 2025 will be presented in the Mizoram Legislative Assembly today by Labour, Employment, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar, according to officials. The proposed legislation seeks to streamline and legalize the operations of private placement agencies, ensuring that Mizoram’s youth can secure employment opportunities without falling prey to fraudulent agents or illegal placements. Under the new law, agencies will be required to register with the government and obtain a license before recruiting candidates for domestic and international jobs.
The bill comes in response to past incidents involving Mizo women who were illegally sent to Syria and the UAE as domestic workers, only to face legal and humanitarian crises. The Mizoram government, with the support of the central government, rescued several such victims last year from distressing conditions in Syria and other Arab nations. This is not the first time Mizoram has attempted to regulate private job placement agencies. In 2015, the Congress-led government enacted a similar law, but it only applied to agencies placing domestic workers within India. The new bill aims to expand regulatory control over overseas placements, ensuring greater transparency and accountability.
Apart from the placement regulation bill, Minister Hmar will also table the Mizoram Youth Commission Bill, 2025, which aims to empower young people with skill development and employment opportunities. Additionally, on March 6, he is set to introduce a bill amending Mizoram’s prohibition law, allowing the sale and manufacturing of wine and beer from locally produced fruits and grains.
