OFW deployment ban in Myanmar stays

MANILA, Philippines — The government still disallows Filipino workers from seeking employment in Myanmar, according to the Overseas Workers and Welfare Administration.

The OWWA said the deployment ban remains in effect amid the rising number of Filipino victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment in Myanmar.

Most of the illegal recruitment victims were offered jobs as customer service representatives, but ended up in scam hubs, the OWWA said.

“Avoid job offers in Myanmar and neighboring countries that are not approved by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) or that did not pass through recruitment agencies,” the agency said.

The OWWA further advised overseas job seekers to refrain from sending personal information, passport or money to online job recruiters.

Those who have been victimized by scam hubs in Myanmar are encouraged to coordinate with the Philippine embassy in Yangon.

Repatriation underway

The DMW earlier said it is processing the repatriation of 220 Filipinos who were forced to work in Myanmar scam hubs.

DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said the government is working on the repatriation of the overseas Filipino workers who are staying at the Philippine embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.

Cacdac said they are coordinating with the Migrant Workers Office in Bangkok to assist the OFWs who crossed over from Myanmar to Thailand.

The DMW chief said the number of OFWs requesting for repatriation may increase.