At least 300 Indian nurses from Kerala, India were duped by recruitment agencies. The nurses arrived in the UAE on a visit visa in October and November 2020, after paying fees ranging from Rs 200,000 (Dh10,055) to Rs 350,000, on the promise of getting jobs in vaccination centres. However, the job offers were fake.

Nurses interviewed by Gulf News (GN) said the agents are still keeping many of their colleagues under their custody, and called upon the Indian authorities to take action against the agents. GN states that the Chief Minister of Kerala was informed about the incident by two of the affected nurses; and that the state has begun investigation into the incident.

One of the nurses told Khaleej Times that she signed a contract with an agency called "Take -Off", and paid them INR 235,000. She had to quit her job in India so she doesn't want to return home empty-handed.

Gulf News has reported that many health-care groups, such as Right Health, NMC Healthcare and Aster DM Healthcare in the UAE have offered jobs to the affected nurses, even those who do not have license, or don't meet the criteria for a license, as they can work as healthcare assistants.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre was unable to find information about Take-Off agency to invite them to respond to the allegation.