How to avoid illegal recruiters

This article is a guide for those who have plans on becoming an Overseas Filipino Worker, indicated in the article are tips and guides on how to avoid illegal recruiters so that they can avoid the pitfalls of illegal recruitment and give them the necessary information to make an informed choice especially when one is to embark on a major decision like being an OFW.

1. What are the advertising tactics or usual Modus Operandi of illegal recruiters so that you can avoid them?

-  Bewary of the following schemes commonly employed by illegal recruiters:

• ESCORT SERVICES – undocumented workers are escorted at the airport or any international port, often through a syndicate, to evade the legal process of documenting workers.

• TOURIST-WORKERS SCHEME – workers leave the country as purportedly as tourists but have been promised jobs abroad, whether existing or non-existing.

• DIRECT HIRING – workers are hired and deployed by foreign employers without passing through the POEA and/or licensed recruitment agencies. Being undocumented, they are therefore without protection.

• SPORTS COMPETITION, RELIGIOUS OR MISSIONARY SCHEME – hired workers are disguised as part of a group with legitimate purposes like sports competition or religious missions abroad.

• MAIL ORDER BRIDE SCHEME – A Filipina is paired with a foreigner allegedly for marriage but in reality being hired to work for the prospective groom.

• BACKDOOR EXIT POINTS SCHEME – workers are sent abroad not through regular exit channel like airports but are deployed usually through seaports to board cargo ships.

• VISA ASSISTANCE IMMIGRATION/CONSULTANCY SCHEME – Immigration consultants or travel agencies offer services in securing immigrant visas for applicants, but in reality, these offices are engaging in the recruitment business where they are prohibited.

• BLIND ADS SCHEME – workers are enticed to apply and send cash or postal order (PO) payment addressed to a Postal Office Box where workers have no choice to see and communicate personally with the recruiter.

• TRAINING CENTERS – Trainees are given courses for certain skills under the guise of guaranteed employment upon completion of the training and promised immediate placement abroad after the training.

2.   If I’m victimized by an illegal recruiter, where do I go and what must I do?

-          You can report to the following offices:

• POEA, Anti-Illegal Recruitment Branch, 4/F Blas F. Ople (BFO) Bldg. , Ortigas Avenue cor. EDSA, Mandaluyong City Tel. No. (632) 722-1189 or (632) 722-1192 .
• POEA Regional Offices
• National Bureau of Investigation Task Force Anti-Illegal Recruitment (NBI-TFAIR)
• Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG)
• Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)

-          You can file an illegal recruitment case directly with the Fiscal’s office.

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