OFWs told to be vigilant vs illegal recruiters

MANILA, Philippines – Potential overseas Filipino workers are urged to check with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) before taking on any offer of work abroad.

“There have been many cases wherein families of these workers even go into heavy debt just to come up with the placement fee only to find out that that when their wives, husbands, or children reach their place of deployment, they will be earning only a fraction of what was agreed and worse, some even succumb to abuses from their employers,” said Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay.

Magsaysay also lauded the efforts of the POEA in suspending recruitment agencies still deploying workers to Syria.

“These illegal recruiters are ruining the lives of these workers, who only want to help uplift the lives of their families,” she said.

The lawmaker also urged families to file complaints against illegal recruiters and notify authorities.

“If they do not call the attention of the authorities, then these illegal recruiters will be more emboldened to victimize other people who want to seek a better future by working abroad,” she added.