The Philippine authorities are now targeting five of the country’s
islands in their long-running campaign against illegal recruiters who
take placement fees from applicants for non-existent foreign jobs or
work that is virtually slave labour.
The victims of these unscrupulous recruiters are often stranded in
foreign countries without the means to return to the Philippines. The
families of many of them have had to sell belongings or mortgage their
homes to pay exorbitant placement fees. The government, however, is
dismayed that there are few convictions because complainants are
reluctant to attend court, especially if they have managed to recover
their fees.
In London the Philippine embassy has warned nationals applying for UK
jobs to be extremely cautious about work offered on the internet as
there have recently been so many fraudulent recruitment schemes. Rogue
operators are using fake scanned recruitment documents showing UK
employers’ names and logos. The applicants then believe they have been
accepted for jobs, which do not exist, and are tricked into sending
money.
In all cases Filipinos are advised to check advertisements and offers through their labour offices.
