POEA blacklists Micronesia hospital

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). (Photo: Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)/Facebook)

MANILA — The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) cautioned those who are looking for work overseas not to accept offers coming from Chuuk State Hospital in the Federated States of Micronesia.

In a statement, POEA officer-in-charge Aristodes Ruaro noted that the said hospital was barred from recruiting Filipino workers following reports of continuing maltreatment, contract violations, harassment, discrimination and abuse of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

The Philippine Consulate in Agana, Guam reported that the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia has made no effort in improving the working conditions and guaranteeing the timely payment of salaries and benefits of workers.

He added that the hospital was reported to have been recruiting health workers from the Philippines without the approval of the POEA.

With this, Ruaro urged applicants to verify first with the POEA before accepting job offers through its website or telephone hotlines (02) 7221144 and 7221155.

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reminded anew OFWs and job seekers to be very cautious in applying for work abroad so as not to be victimized by illegal recruitment and human trafficking,

In a statement, the department urged job applicants to take time and thoroughly check the status, license, and the legitimacy of placement agencies before applying for work abroad.

The agency also enumerated various ways in checking the legitimacy of a recruitment agency before pursuing a job application.

First log onto the website of Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Then check all the status of licensed recruitment agencies listed at http://www.poea.gov.ph/cgi-bin/agList.asp?mode=all.

Job seekers can fill-in the name of the agency and choose the category of the recruitment agency whether land-based or manning agency.

Likewise, OFWs are urged to call POEA hotline numbers to check the legitimacy of the jobs being offered and the license status of their recruitment agencies.