Don’t meet ‘recruiters’ in coffee shops, would-be OFWs told

Jobseekers eyeing overseas employment were advised not to entertain individuals claiming to represent recruitment agencies but do not hold meetings in their offices.

At a press briefing on Tuesday,  Labor Undersecretary Dominador Say said some individuals are using the names of licensed agencies to victimize would-be overseas Filipnio workers (OFWs).

"Sometimes, itong mga pangalan ng licensed agencies na 'to, ay ginagamit ng mga tao na hindi konektado sa licensed agencies na 'yun at nakikipag-meeting sa, halimbawa, coffee shop somewhere in Ermita," Say said.

Pinoys looking for jobs abroad were advised by Say to refuse offers from individuals if they are not called to the main office/listed address of licensed recruitment agencies.

These individuals may just be using the name of licensed agencies to scam/illegally recruit jobseekers. pic.twitter.com/hOMJ1u6ZjX

— Rie Takumi (@rie_takumi) November 21, 2017

"Para sa publiko, I would like to advise them: 'pag hindi kayo inanyayahan at pinatawag sa central or main office, registered address ng agency na 'yan, at dun lang kayo kakausapin sa mga kanto kung saan-saan... 'wag ho kayong maniwala dahil ginagamit lamang ang pangalan ng agency na 'yun. Illegal recruitment 'yan, definitely illegal recruitment," Say added.

A list of licensed recruitment agencies is available on the website of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA).

Say said Labor Secretary Silvestro Bello III has ordered a crackdown on agencies involved in illegal recruitment.

"Ang order ng secretary is to look up the site of POEA kung sinu-sino ang engaged in illegal recruitment na mga kaso. That should be decided immediately, for cancellation or suspension," he said.

Individuals convicted of illegal recruitment may be imprisoned for 12 to 20 years or fined P1,000,000 to P2,000,000. If constituted as economic sabotage, he or she may be meted out life sentence and fined P2,000,000 to P5,000,000.

Recruitment agencies, lending institutions, training schools, or medical clinics convicted of illegal recruitment will also have their license or registration immediately revoked.

Say also apologized for the inconvenience caused by the temporary suspension of overseas employment certificate (OECs) processing for Filipinos headed abroad as they conduct an investigation on POEA itself for employees involved in illegal recruitment.

"'Yung mga kaso ng illegal recruitment na naka-appeal sa akin, bibilisan ko rin 'yun kasi kung illegal recruitment ka, even if it transpired several months ago, kasama 'yan sa activities na ginagawa natin ngayon," he said.

"Humingi lang kami ng a little patience from the public because we have been bombarded by a lot of complaints na hindi makaalis ang mga nag-aaply."

Exceptions to the suspension include balikbayans planning a vacation in the Philippines during the period of suspension and those issued with validly-stamped visas by their employers before November 12. —KBK, GMA News