OFW Advisory
2007

Lifting of deployment ban on hold
DOLE Secretary Arturo D. Brion decided to "hold further action on Department Order No. 86-07 in light of expressed concerns on the security/peace and order situation in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Nigeria. Under this situation, the complete ban on Iraq, Lebanon and Nigeria remains. While we previously allowed the deployment of new hires and returning workers to international organizations in Afghanistan, the Department of Foreign Affairs will not issue any 'no objection' certificate for Afghanistan; hence there is also an effective complete ban".

China closed to foreign domestic helpers
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration reiterates its warning to  applicants for overseas employment  to be cautious of recruiters who promise jobs in China especially for domestic helpers and teachers. Administrator Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said employment of domestic helpers, including nannies and caregivers, is closed to foreigners. MORE

Processing of Visa for Temporary Workers Bound for Canada
According to the Canadian Embassy in Manila, processing of visa application is on a first come, first served basis. This is to ensure that the processing of visa applications is treated in a fair manner as possible. Due to the growing number of applications received which has resulted to backlogs, efforts are being made to shorten the processing time of visa applications. The Embassy is currently processing applications which were submitted 18 weeks ago. MORE

Warning on caregiving jobs in Canda
OFWs working in countries  such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and Israel but are planning to transfer work as caregivers in Canada should be wary of employment offers in the country.
   OFWs must first verify their employment contract in their respective worksites to be sue that they really have legal employers in Canada before leaving to work there.
   The POLO in Canada has reported cases of two Filipino woman caregivers who had left Dubai and Hong Kong for Canada but arrived there to find themselves without employers. One ot the two Filipino women were presently facing deportation, while the other was reportedly abused by her employer but could not file a complaint against him for fear of being promptly deported by Canadian immigration authorities after finding out that her current employer was different from the one specified in her work permit.

Fake "waraqa" proliferates in Saudi
Beware! Fake certificates of employment are sold by syndicates in Saudi Arabia to runaway and overstaying OFWs on the false promise that "waraqa" makes them immune from arrests.

Beware of 2 recruiters of fishermen
"Step Up Employment Agency" and "Tien Lung Marine Seafarers TS Overseas Pte. Ltd", both  without license and job orders approved by the POEA, are reported to be recruiting Filipino fishermen for non-existent jobs in Taiwan and South Africa.

Korea employers to extend contract of “loyal workers”
Filipino workers in Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS) who have worked for three consecutive years  with only one employer can return  to Korea after only one month and work for  the same employer for another three-year contract. READ MORE

No direct visa application for Japan
Effective July 30, 2007. the Consulate of Japan in Manila, Cebu and Davao will no longer accept direct visa applications but through agencies accredited by the Embassy of Japan in Manila. Direct applications may only be accepted in cases of "humanitarian considerations"; and visas for diplomats and government officials, invitees by the Japanese government institutions and independent administrative agencies, and scholarship awardees.

Beware of e-mail employment scams
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration warns job applicants on the proliferation of e-mail messages offering high-paying overseas jobs.
    Administrator Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said several job applicants reported that they received  unsolicited e-mail messages from  a “multinational company”  through a seemingly legitimate e-mail account congratulating them for being selected for a specific job.  The e-mail contains details about the “hiring company”, the positions needed, and a very enticing compensation package. The e-mail further states the company received a copy of the resume of the applicant from a “resume bank” or job site of their accredited companies in the Philippines. MORE or CLICK HERE FOR SAMPLE E-MAIL

Beware of fraudulent UK job offers in the internet
Filipinos applying for work in the United Kingdom should take extreme caution in dealing with internet job offers in light of recent surge in fraudulent recruitment schemes.
   The Labor Office of the Philippine Embassy in London has issued this warning in response to several email requests from Filipino applicants asking for assistance in verifying the authenticity of job offers in the UK.
   Filipino applicants must therefore be alert on the modus operandi of these unscrupulous operators, such as the use of fake scanned recruitment documents bearing the name and logo of employers in the UK. In most cases, applicants are being led to believe that they have been accepted for some positions and directed to send money to travel or remittance agencies acting as middle agents. MORE

Korea trainee system abolished, OFWs should avoid overstaying
Korea has abolished the Alien Industrial Trainee System and stopped issuing trainee visas effective January 1, 2007. Dr. Yong-Dal Kim, President of Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea) said Philippine licensed agencies formerly hiring trainees for Korea can no longer recruit workers under the trainee scheme.
   Korean employers could only get foreign workforce legally through the  Employment Permit System (EPS) with the participation of other sending countries which include Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Cambodia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and the Philippines.
  Private recruitment agencies are not authorized to participate in implementation of the EPS and he asked the cooperation of the POEA to maintain such system. The POEA is the only government organization authorized to implement the EPS in the country.
    Filipinos working as industrial trainees in Korea are advised to come back to the Philippines upon expiration of their contract and re-apply under the Employment Permit System (EPS) instead of going illegal.
   According Dr. Yong-Dal Kim, a huge number of overstaying workers will affect the labor quota that will be given to the Philippines under the Employment Permit System.
   Former trainees who wish to continue working legally in Korea can register with the POEA. They should pass the Korean Language Test (KLT) and the medical requirements for inclusion in the Roster of Jobseekers to have another chance to be hired by Korean employers.  Former trainees should, however, wait for at least six months before they could go back to work in Korea. Employers will face stiff penalty for employing illegal foreign workers in Kore

Warning against fake jobs in China
According to a DFA report, a number of Filipinos are in legal trouble in China for illegal work or overstaying. Most of the cases of  contract breaches and illegal recruitment involve unauthorized schools and fly-by-night recruitment agencies.
    The booming Chinese economy has created a big demand for teachers and domestic helpers. Recruiters lure Filipinos with high-paying jobs but many victims end up underpaid, jobless or jailed.   
    While China needs English teachers, not all schools are authorized by the Chinese government to hire foreigners. China has no job openings for foreign housekeepers, nannies or other categories of domestic help.
    Recruiters use the internet or telephone to lure Filipino workers. Most of the visas of the victims turned out to be fake. MORE INFO ON ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT OF CHINA-BOUND WORKERS

Foreign-based placement agencies not allowed to recruit Filipino workers for Spain
Beware of manpower brokers who recruit Filipino caregivers and nurses to work in Spain. The Spanish government has not authorized any placement agency outside the Philippines  to recruit Filipino workers.
  Under the “Proyecto Piloto”, the experimental hiring of Filipino healthcare professionals and skilled workers, only  Philippine-based and licensed recruitment agencies are allowed to deploy OFWs to Spain.  In our memorandum of understanding with Spain, the point of hiring and issuance of entry visas and work permits are exclusively in the Philippines.