POEA warns nurses vs illegal recruiters to US

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) warned yesterday that nurses aspiring to work in the United States are likely victims of illegal recruiters posing as "management groups."

"Applicants should be wary of these management groups. These entities are not allowed to recruit and deploy workers," said POEA chief Rosalinda Baldoz.

She added that these groups have no license to recruit and deploy workers to the US or any other country.

Baldoz said these groups advertise in major newspapers, claiming there are jobs in the United States available for Filipino nurses even without proper authorization from the POEA.

"In one of the advertisements, a management group based in New York declared that it was engaged in a direct hiring program for nurses with a chance to become a US immigrant," she said.

Baldoz also said that these management groups also offer reviews and examinations for nurses and conduct screening sessions in Cagayan de Oro City.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 Filipino workers held a protest in front of the Philippine consulate in Hong Kong Sunday, demanding the free issuance of an electronic card to all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and the immediate lifting of the consulate’s policy banning protest actions.

Migrante Sectoral Party-Hong Kong (MSP-HK) led the protest. Connie Bragas-Regalado, the group’s chairwoman, said the Philippine consulate has to account for the "treacherous disinformation of OFWs and business-like dealing on the supposedly free e-card, a government service." OFWS are reportedly charged $25 to be issued an electronic card, which is supposed to be an identification card.

She cited a provision in the magna carta for OFWs that said that "government fees and other administrative costs of recruitment, introduction, placement and assistance to migrant workers shall be rendered free."

Regalado said "this shows a government that abandons its responsibility to its people, for beyond the e-card issue is the more destructive policy of commercializing government services."