OFWs warned vs. illegal ‘3rd country recruitment’ scheme

DMW Building. (File Photo: Department of Migrant Workers/Facebook)

By Marita Moaje, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DWM) on Monday sternly warned overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to be wary of illegal recruitment schemes operating under the guise of “third country recruitment”, particularly on social media platforms.

The agency made the remark after a group of Filipinos were arrested in Abuja and Lagos in Nigeria on allegations of cybercrime, economic sabotage, and violations of the country’s immigration laws.

The DMW said the Philippine Embassy in Abuja reported possible human trafficking incidents involving Filipinos to Nigeria and other countries in West Africa.

“These Filipinos were recruited to travel to Nigeria from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, using tourist visas and were led to believe that their permits would be processed upon their arrival in Nigeria,” it said in a news release.

“The Nigerian government does not allow conversion of tourist visas for the purpose of employment.”

The DMW said the Nigerian government strictly requires that all foreign workers, including Filipinos, obtain a Subject to Regularization (STR) visa from the Nigerian Embassy in the Philippines before entering the country for employment.

It is illegal for Filipino workers to enter Nigeria on tourist visas with the intention of securing employment after arrival.

Meanwhile, overseas employment documents may be secured through DMW-accredited recruitment agencies to ensure workers’ benefits, including protection from labor malpractice and assistance in case of emergency.

The third country recruitment scheme targets OFWs already deployed in their destination countries and recruits them to work in another country, promising higher-paying jobs.

The DMW said OFWs and would-be OFWs should always be more cautious, especially against dubious overseas job offers on social media platforms.

They are also encouraged to immediately report any suspicious recruitment activities to the respective Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and Philippine Embassy that has jurisdiction over their job site.

Meanwhile, any suspicious activities about illegal recruitment and human trafficking can be reported to the DMW Migrant Workers Protection Bureau through their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dmwairtip, email at mwpb@dmw.gov.ph or through their hotline number +63 2 8721-0619 for legal assistance.

The DMW said recruitment through a third country is considered illegal if neither the recruiter nor the employer has proper authorization from the Philippine government.