DFA warns vs prowling scammers
The Philippine Consul General in Geneva warned the public against individuals offering jobs abroad in exchange for money
The Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday reminded Filipinos, particularly those who want to work abroad, to go through the legal processes to avoid being victimized by recruitment scams.
In a text message, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Eduardo de Vega reiterated the department’s advice.
“Pass through legal channels and register with the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration before departing,” he said.
“Agencies that promise work abroad while advising applicants not to go through the right procedures in the Philippines may be engaged in trafficking,” he warned.
He stressed that the government is exhausting all efforts to dismantle recruitment scams preying on Filipinos who are only looking for greener pastures abroad and provide for their families.
“For us to combat this menace, the cooperation of all is necessary,” he said.
Over the weekend, the Philippine Consul General in Geneva warned the public against individuals offering jobs abroad in exchange for money.
According to the consulate, a Filipino is operating recruitment companies that deceive Filipinos by offering them employment in Europe for a fee of 500 to 2,000 euros.
“The job offers turned out to be bogus. In some instances, the recruitment activities were undertaken by foreign nationals working with the recruiter,” the consulate said in a statement.
“These activities amount to illegal recruitment and trafficking in persons that is punishable by law and should be avoided at all costs,” it added.
It continued: “The Philippines government takes the matter of illegal recruitment and trafficking of Filipinos seriously and is employing countermeasures to address the issue.”
The consulate said those who knew the issue were encouraged to report it to the consulate or register a complaint so that the anti-human trafficking authorities could take immediate action.
last month, Al Jazeera, the international media organization, aired a two-part investigative series on the illegal recruitment schemes victimizing OFWs in Hong Kong.
Filipinos in Hong Kong were said to have shelled out exorbitant amounts for what turned out to be nonexistent jobs in Poland.
Some 400 Filipinos suffered the same fate after falling victim to a recruitment scam by the Italy-based consultancy firm Alpha Assistenza SRl.