Philippines targets illegal recruiters

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.