Patna: The Bihar government has stepped up efforts to promote safe overseas employment by training instructors who will prepare workers before they leave India for jobs abroad. The initiative is aimed at helping migrants understand their legal rights, avoid fraudulent recruitment practices and adapt to working and living conditions in destination countries.
The Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT) workshop for trainers was organised on July 20 by the Bihar State Overseas Employment Bureau, which functions under the Department of Youth, Employment and Skill Development.
Preparing Workers Before They Leave
The workshop, held at Pratibimb Auditorium in Niyojan Bhawan, brought together trainers and employment officials from across Bihar to strengthen the state’s pre-departure support system for overseas workers.
According to Sunil Kumar, Director (Employment and Training)-cum-Chief Executive Officer of the Bihar State Overseas Employment Bureau, the state government aims to provide safe, transparent and quality overseas employment opportunities for young people while ensuring they migrate through authorised channels.
He urged trainers to work closely with authorised recruitment agencies so that aspiring migrants can access verified employment opportunities and reduce the risk of exploitation.
Focus on Safe Migration
During the training, participants received guidance on the preparations workers should complete before travelling abroad.
According to officials, the sessions covered workplace rights and responsibilities, labour laws in destination countries, local customs and cultural practices, personal safety, and ways to respond to challenges that workers may encounter overseas.
The programme also highlighted the importance of understanding employment contracts and following legal migration procedures before accepting overseas jobs.
Training on the e-Migrant Portal
A key component of the workshop was practical training on the e-Migrant portal, the online platform used to facilitate overseas recruitment.
Officials demonstrated procedures related to trainer and institute logins, worker registration, data entry and batch management. Participants were also introduced to the Ministry of External Affairs’ online services and informed about documentation requirements, emergency contact mechanisms and the role of Indian embassies in assisting citizens abroad.
According to the department, familiarising trainers with these digital systems is expected to improve awareness among workers before departure.
Building a Network of Trained Mentors
The Bihar State Overseas Employment Bureau said the objective of the programme is to create a network of trained instructors capable of guiding young people seeking jobs abroad.
According to officials, better-informed workers are less vulnerable to fraud, illegal recruitment and workplace exploitation, while structured pre-departure counselling can help them adapt more effectively to employment overseas.
The workshop was attended by Joint Director (Employment) Priyanka Kumari, Deputy Director (Employment) Shyam Prakash Shukla, Deputy Director (Employment) Ashwajeet Kumar Parashar, senior departmental officials and Employment Officers from districts across Bihar.
What’s Next?
The Bihar government is expected to continue expanding its pre-departure orientation programme as part of its broader strategy to connect the state’s workforce with international employment opportunities through authorised and regulated migration channels.
