Look for legit recruitment agencies, domestic workers urged

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has urged domestic workers attempting to leave the country should look for legitimate and licensed recruitment agencies.

DFA spokesman Charles Jose made the statement following incidents of human trafficking in Kalibo International Airport.

“Ang mga kababayan natin na nais mag-trabaho sa abroad ay dapat na dumaan sa accredited na agencies ng Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) para masigurado na hindi sila mabibiktima ng illegal recruitment at maabuso. We remain vigilant in the campaign against human trafficking, “said Jose, also DFA assistant secretary. 

For the month of May alone, at least 11 domestic workers were intercepted by immigration authorities before they could board their planes to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from Kalibo International Airport due to fraudulent travel documents. 

Last May 22, five of those domestic workers from Aklan tried to seek the help of a security guard by giving him P15,000 for their free pass to immigration counters.

Before the entrapment, the security guard already informed the media and the local police of their modus operation. 

“The government is serious to go after the traffickers and help the domestic workers. It has an inter-agency committee to combat human trafficking cases,” he said in a report of Bombo Radyo Kalibo. 

The Philippine Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking is formed with the Bureau of Immigration, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Department of Labor and Employment, to combat illegal recruitment and human trafficking.

“May mga government agencies tayo tulad ng POEA na tumitingin if valid ang labor contracts nila na pipirmahan ng mga workers. May mga embassy din tayo sa abroad na tumutulong if may disagreements sa kanilang kontrata, maging sa mga kaso nila,” Jose added.