POEA warns of "new" illegal recruitment modus

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is warning the public to be vigilant about a new trick alleged used by illegal recruiters.

 POEA-7 director Evelia Durato issued the warning during a forum of Overseas Filipino Workers and Families Union in the Sixth District.

Durato said illegal recruiters are using the new ploy of conducting skills training to their victims with a promise that after the training they will be deployed abroad.

The illegal recruiters will be asking huge amount of money to defray the expenses for the training which is not sanctioned by the authorized government agency.

She cited a case wherein the victim initially paid P7,000 then another P26,000 and P20,000 for the skills training alone. However, the training turned out to be not accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or TESDA.

Durato said POEA cannot charge these recruiters for illegal recruitment as they are not recruiting employees but merely offered skills training. “Daghan na ang marunong karon unsaun pagtuyok tuyok sa balaud. So ang atong katawhan unta di gyud magpa-ilad,” she said.

Durato said that victims of illegal recruitment were usually lured to travel to Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Australia as these countries would normally offer perks and benefits for the entire family of OFW to migrate.

She advised the public to verify at their office whether the recruitment agency that they are applying at is legitimate and registered with the POEA.

According to Durato, it is lamentable that some people only go to POEA when they are already victimized by illegal recruiters. (FREEMAN)