Short answer: no. In India, a genuine recruiter or placement agency should never ask you, the jobseeker, to pay money to get a job. The cost of hiring belongs to the employer who needs the worker — not to the person looking for work. If anyone asks for a “registration fee,” “processing fee,” “training deposit,” or “security amount” before they find you a job, treat it as a warning sign, not a normal step.
This guide explains what a placement fee actually is, what India’s law says in 2026, how to spot a fee-charging scam, and exactly what to do if you have already been asked to pay. It matters most for the people who can least afford to lose money — first-time workers, daily-wage earners, and women returning to work after a career break.
The principle: the employer pays, not the worker
There is a simple international standard behind this, often called the “Employer Pays” principle: no worker should pay for a job, and the costs of recruitment should be borne by the employer. The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines recruitment fees broadly — workers should not be charged, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, any fee or related cost to secure employment, “regardless of the manner, timing or location” of the charge (ILO, General principles and operational guidelines for fair recruitment).
That definition is deliberately wide. A “fee” is not only a one-line charge called placement fee. It also covers money collected as a registration fee, a service charge, a deposit, a wage deduction, a kickback, or a “donation” — taken by an employer, an agent, or any middleman (ILO recruitment fees at a glance). If you part with money to get the job, it is a recruitment fee, whatever the receipt calls it.
What the law in India says in 2026
India is moving to put this principle into hard law. The Ministry of Labour and Employment has released the draft Private Placement Agency (Regulation) Bill, 2025 for public consultation. Its aim is to formalise the recruitment sector, make registration of placement agencies mandatory, and create a single oversight framework to protect jobseekers from exploitative practices (draft Bill, dge.gov.in; L&E Global summary).
Two things are worth knowing. First, a core duty the framework is built around is barring agencies from billing jobseekers — fees, where allowed at all, should be charged to employers, in line with international standards (IRCCL analysis of the 2025 placement law). Second, agencies would have to register: those operating within one state under a State Placement Support Authority, and those across states under a Central Placement Support Authority, which can inspect, suspend, or cancel a registration where rules are broken (Lexology).
The Bill is still in draft, so do not wait for it to pass before protecting yourself. The protection you need is already practical and immediate: keep your money in your pocket until you are actually employed and being paid.
How to spot a fee-charging scam
Fake placement agencies are a well-documented problem in India, and the pattern is consistent. Watch for these red flags:
- Money demanded before any work is done. A registration, processing, or placement fee asked before the agency starts looking for a job for you is a major red flag — legitimate recruiters do not charge candidates upfront (Hirist; CIEL HR).
- No verifiable office or contact. A real agency has a physical address and reachable contact details. Temporary co-working addresses passed off as a “head office” are a warning sign (siynet).
- An employer you cannot verify. Cross-check the job against the company’s own website and other platforms. If the role appears nowhere else and the employer cannot be confirmed, be very cautious (Bajaj Finserv).
- An “offer” you never applied for. Unsolicited job offers, and any request for money for “training,” “background checks,” or “equipment,” are classic scam markers (Internshala).
- Personal UPI, Paytm, or cash. Genuine agencies invoice through a company account and give receipts. Insistence on a personal UPI/Paytm transfer or cash is high-risk (Hirist).
- Pressure to decide now. No real agency rushes you into paying or signing. Urgency is a manipulation tactic (Bajaj Finserv).
If two or more of these appear together, step back. You are almost certainly looking at a scam, not an opportunity.
Why this hits women returning to work the hardest
Fee-charging scams do the most damage to people who are anxious to get back into earning — and that often includes women re-entering the workforce after a break. India’s female labour force participation has climbed from 23.3% in 2017–18 to 41.7% in 2023–24, and the Economic Survey 2025–26 has called for stronger “returnship” and back-to-work pathways to keep that momentum going (YourStory on Economic Survey 2025-26; SightsInPlus).
But formal returnship programmes from large employers are concentrated in cities like Bengaluru, Pune, Gurugram, and Hyderabad, leaving women in smaller towns with fewer trustworthy options (CII Blog). That gap is exactly where fee-charging “agents” prey. A woman restarting her career should never have to buy her way back into work. The right to earn should not come with an entry fee — which is the entire reason e People India operates on a zero-placement-fee basis.
What to do if you have already been asked to pay
If an agency has demanded money, or you have already paid:
- Stop any further payment and keep every message, receipt, and screenshot.
- File a complaint with your local police or cyber-crime cell.
- Register a grievance with the National Consumer Helpline — toll-free 1800-11-4000 or 155260 (sources: siynet, Hirist).
- Warn others by reporting the agency on the platform where you found it.
You are not at fault for being targeted, and reporting helps shut these operations down before they reach the next person.
How e People India is different
e People India (Mulaazimat Solutions India LLP) connects jobseekers and employers on a zero-placement-fee model: candidates never pay to find work, and the platform is built around getting more people — especially women — into fair, real employment. Employers fund the hiring they need; jobseekers keep what they earn.
Looking for work? Browse verified openings on our Find Jobs page — you will never be charged a placement fee.
Hiring? Post a Job and reach candidates directly.
Think an agency is charging jobseekers? Tell us and learn more about our mission.
FAQ
Is it legal for a placement agency to charge jobseekers in India?
Charging jobseekers runs against the international “employer pays” standard, and India’s draft Private Placement Agency (Regulation) Bill, 2025 is built around barring agencies from billing workers and requiring agencies to register with state or central authorities. Until it passes, the safest rule is simple: do not pay an agency to get a job.
A recruiter is asking for a small “registration fee.” Is that normal?
No. A genuine recruiter does not charge you upfront. A registration, processing, or training fee requested before you are placed is one of the most common scam signals.
The job offer looks real and the company is well known. Should I still be careful?
Yes. Scammers often impersonate real companies. Cross-check the role on the company’s official website, verify the recruiter’s email domain, and never pay for “onboarding,” “equipment,” or “background checks.”
I already paid. Can I get my money back?
Recovery is not guaranteed, but you should report it immediately: keep all proof, file a complaint with your local cyber-crime cell, and register a grievance with the National Consumer Helpline (1800-11-4000 / 155260).
Does e People India charge jobseekers?
No. e People India operates on a zero-placement-fee model — jobseekers never pay to find work. Employers fund the hiring.
