Why you Shouldn’t Trust Recruiters Hiring OFWs in Foodcourts
OMAN – The Department of Labor and Employment once again made a call to potential overseas Filipino workers to be wary of people offering employment abroad.
“Kapag mayroon kang legitimate recruitment business talagang sa opisina ang transaksyon. Hindi yung nagpapakalat ng kung sinu-sinong tao at wala namang napapakitang papeles na may karapatan silang mag-recruit,” said DOLE secretary Rosalinda Baldoz during her recent trip to Oman.
Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) added that licensed recruiters will not do business in foodcourts, restaurants or malls.
“Malamang illegal po yun,” he said.
Cacdac said many illegal recruiters use double visas for workers, especially those who will be deployed to countries which are under a deployment ban. Illegal recruiters also use fake TESDA and OWWA certificates and fail to issue appropriate receipts.
“Placement fees na isang buwan lang dapat ang ipataw o di kaya sa mga domestic workers na bawal icha-charge ng placement fee, cancellation of license yun,” Cacdac warned.
Fines and jail time will be imposed on violators.
Baldoz urged those victimized by illegal recruiters to come out and file a case.
“Sa pamamagitan ng pag execute ng affidavit na dini-detalye yung sirkumstansiya ng kaparaanan ng pag recruit sa kanila. Kasi kung hindi man ganun sobrang linaw, maaring ang ating police investigator, ang ating NBI ay makakuha ng mga lead information doon sa kanilang affidavit na i-execute,” she said.
In the past two years, the POEA have closed down over 120 recruitment agencies engaged in illegal activities.
The DOLE urges applicants to first check with the POEA if the agency they are dealing with is legal and licensed to recruit OFWs.