'Illegal OFWs more prone to abuses'

MANILA, Philippines - The government yesterday warned aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) against leaving the country as tourists just to be able to enter banned destinations.

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) chief Hans Cacdac said OFWs without proper employment and travel documents are more prone to abuses and exploitation.

Cacdac said many illegally deployed OFWs who were employed in Syria and Lebanon suffered unpaid wages, long hours of work, and physical and verbal abuse from their employers.

He said the workers were found to have left the country using short-term visit or tourist visas although they really intended to work overseas.

According to Cacdac, illegal recruiters are using a third or fourth country, usually ASEAN-member countries where visa is not required, and other countries in the Middle East as jump-off points to send Filipino workers to banned destinations.

The POEA has existing deployment bans on Iraq, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Libya, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Nigeria.

“Dubai is one of the favorite destinations of Filipino workers wanting to find work overseas, but a foreigner holding a visit visa is not allowed to work there,” Cacdac explained.

He added that many Filipino workers who only hold tourist visas are prompted to agree to substandard employment contracts or submit themselves to physical and emotional exploitation because they do not have the necessary employment documents.

“The legal way is to obtain an employment contract and employment visa or work permit and submit them to the POEA for processing and issuance of exit clearance,” Cacdac pointed out.

He said the Bureau of Immigration is now implementing stricter rules to prevent tourists from working in banned countries.

Meanwhile, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) reported that 27 distressed OFWs returned home from Syria the other night.

OWWA chief Carmelita Dimzon said the returning OFWs were among those who have availed of the government’s repatriation program from Damascus, Syria.

A total of 1,042 OFWs, mostly undocumented workers, have returned home since the government raised the alert level in Syria to 4.

Dimzon said OWWA extended airport assistance to the OFWs and offered them livelihood assistance under the government’s P2-billion reintegration program.