Baldoz directs POEA to prosecute Canada recruitment scammers; urges victims to testify

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz (Photo by Jomar Lagmay, LCO)

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday directed Philippine Overseas Employment Administration chief Hans Leo J. Cacdac to investigate, moto proprio, and file an appropriate case against the officials and employees of one Primera Human Resource Services, which is advertising itself to be POEA-licensed, for perpetuating an e-mail scam that lures victims for non-existent care giving work in Canada.

Baldoz’s directive came after she received information from Labor Attache Leonida V. Romulo of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Toronto saying that Primera Human Resource Services has been reported to be recruiting caregivers, even if inexperienced, through e-mail, instructing applicants to enrol for a three-month on-the-job training at Ian Anderson House, Ontario’s first in-resident hospice for individuals with terminal cancer and limited life expectancy.

“The POLO and the Philippine Consulate General in Ontario had received an e-mail from Heidi Harrigan, volunteer coordinator of the Ian Anderson House, to complain that her hospice is being used by Primera Human Resource Services, to falsely recruit caregivers from the Philippines. She claimed receiving numerous e-mails and calls from applicants in the Philippines telling about the fraudulent activities of the company,” said Baldoz.

Ms. Harrigan has forwarded copies of the e-mail that Primera Human Resource Services has been using to dupe applicants.

“After evaluation of your resume thru PRIMERA HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES with POEA License No. POEA-003-LB-022414-PL, we are pleased to tell you you were chosen for the position of a Caregiver (open for BSN or other medical allied professionals such as Caregivers, Nursing Aides, Midwives, Therapists, Graduate or Undergraduate, with or without PRC license, with or without experience, newly graduate).

“NOTE: No experience required because we have our own ON THE JOB TRAINING at Ian Anderson House in Canada with salary during the first 3 months within the employment contract. No IELTS required because there is a certificate of exemption that will be issued by your respective employer. We are offering working visa not student/immigrant visa,” the e-mail reads.

“This (e-mail) is fraudulent. People in the Philippines are receiving this false email that says it comes from Ian Anderson House, when in fact, it did not,” Ms. Harrigan said.

Baldoz said this e-mail is clearly illegal recruitment and urged those who have fallen for the scam to come forward and testify against the company.

Warning Filipinos planning to work in Canada to be very careful in dealing with individuals or companies, licensed to unlicensed, recruiting for non-existent jobs, she said:

“Our prospective OFWS should better visit the POEA and gather as much accurate information as possible. Don’t fall for the sweet words of scammers. Legal and safe migration is the best and it is possible, but applicants should be diligent, too.”

A check with the POEA reveals that Primera Human Resource Services has a license which expired yesterday. Its office is located at Suite 300, Ermita Centre Building, 1350 Roxas Boulevard, Manila, and its official representative is a certain Trina T. Dizon. No one answers the company’s telephone numbers, 543-3755 and 509-8117; and mobile nos. 0916-638-3298 and 0918-398-1453.

Labor Attache Romulo said in her report that Ian Anderson House has already coordinated and filed a report about the scam with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Department and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Ms. Harrigan said the hospice had already posted a warning in its website.