# Employer verification and anti-fraud rules

## Non-negotiables
1. **No candidate fees.** No registration, interview, training, uniform, "security
   deposit" or "processing" fee may be charged to candidates by the organiser or
   any employer. The Ministry of Labour & Employment has warned that NCS
   registration, applications and interviews are free, and asked people to report
   job fraud on the **1930** cyber-crime helpline or at cybercrime.gov.in
   ([Mint, 24 Jul 2026](https://www.livemint.com/money/personal-finance/government-warns-against-job-scams-ncs-registration-applications-and-interviews-remain-free-11784874414155.html);
   [National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal](https://cybercrime.gov.in/)).
2. **Written vacancy and pay commitments.** Before a stall is confirmed, the
   employer submits in writing, for each role: job title, number of openings,
   **in-hand monthly pay band**, work location, shift and hours, minimum
   qualification, physical requirements, and interview format (on-the-spot or CV
   collection). Use `templates/employer-invite-and-vacancy-form.md`.
3. **Offers in writing.** Any offer made at the fair must be on the employer's
   letterhead or official email, with role, pay, location and joining date.

## NEST recommendations (ideas, not legal requirements)
- **R1 Signed job spec sheet.** One per role, signed by an authorised person
  before the stall is confirmed: work location, shift, qualification, physical
  demands, **monthly CTC vs expected in-hand pay** (after deductions such as PF,
  ESIC and professional tax, where they apply), variable pay listed separately, and
  engagement type: **on-roll / off-roll (name the payroll company and principal
  employer) / gig**. Template: `templates/job-spec-sheet.md`.
- **R2 CIN / GSTIN check before a stall.** Look up the CIN on the Ministry of
  Corporate Affairs portal (<https://www.mca.gov.in/>) or the GSTIN on the GST
  portal's taxpayer search (<https://services.gst.gov.in/services/searchtp>).
  Record what you checked and the result. No check, no stall.
- **R3 No commission-only or MLM roles.** Roles without a fixed base pay, and
  multi-level or network-marketing schemes, don't get a stall.
- **R4 Central offer-logging desk.** Offers are logged centrally
  (`templates/offer-log.csv`) instead of handed out as loose paper slips.
- **R6 Re-invite rule (NEST suggestion).** Consider not inviting back employers
  whose offer-to-joining rate is below 30%; see `metrics.md` for how to apply it
  fairly.
- **R8 90-day helpline.** Problems reported after the fair (pay or role
  different from the spec sheet, location changed, fee demands, unpaid wages) are
  logged against the offer ID and raised with the employer.

## Verification checklist (log each result)
- [ ] Official website and a named HR contact on an official email domain (not only a free webmail address).
- [ ] A registration you can check **before the stall is confirmed** (R2): CIN on the MCA portal or GSTIN on the GST portal; otherwise LLPIN, Udyam, or for staffing firms any registration they hold. Record what you checked. Don't guess.
- [ ] A signed job spec sheet for every role (R1), with fixed base pay (R3).
- [ ] For staffing or placement agencies: who the **principal employer** is, and who pays the salary.
- [ ] The vacancies also appear on the employer's site, the NCS portal ([ncs.gov.in](https://www.ncs.gov.in/)) or another official channel, where possible.
- [ ] No fee requests, no requests for candidates' bank OTPs or original documents to be kept.
- [ ] Past complaints: a quick public search. Record findings neutrally.

For DDU-GKY fairs, the guidelines also expect due diligence on participating
employers and tracking of placed candidates
([MoRD DDU-GKY guidelines](https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3e9412ee564384b987d086df32d4ce6b7/uploads/2025/01/202501251328475725.pdf)).

## Red flags: hold or reject
- Asks candidates for money, or to buy a kit, course or uniform first.
- Won't commit to pay or location in writing.
- "Unlimited openings" with no role details.
- Commission-only pay, "earn by recruiting others", or a starter kit to buy (R3).
- In-hand pay or engagement type (on-roll / off-roll / gig) left blank on the spec sheet (R1).
- Overseas jobs without a valid recruiting-agent licence (check with the
  relevant government authority before allowing such a stall).
- Pressure to share the full candidate database.

## On the day
Put up the notice at entry and at every zone:
> "No genuine employer at this fair will ask you for any fee. Verify every offer
> on the employer's official website. Report fraud on 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in."