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I might be simplifying it but:

A reliving Letter is document that your employer must (effectively) provide so you can resign and work for some one else, they can hold you hostage.

Bond in this term refers to "An employment bond contains a clause which requires the employee to serve the employer compulsorily for a specific period of time or else refund the amount specified as bond value."

Basically an indentured servant. A friend of mine who was head of UNI described it as "horrific".

UNI is a global union so they also work with textile workers in poor countries so describing working practices for professionals in India as "horrific" shows how bad it is.



OK, thanks, this is interesting. I'm learning something.

What is the enforcement mechanism for the relieving letter? Like, what stops someone from getting a new job without having a relieving letter from the prior employer?

Is this common in India for engineers?

You said the US does ask for relieving letters but I think from context you mean "at least the US doesn't ask for relieving letters." Right?


> Basically an indentured servant

… or a young graduate paying back a university bursary.

Not always evil.


I don't think an indentured servant is even evil.

As an American, it makes me think of people who would charge 7(?) years of labor on a farm in exchange for passage to America in the 18th century. Sounds like a great deal to me!

People generally don't enter into agreements unless it's beneficial for both parties.


No its pretty much evil - are not bursaries gifts.




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