• What is illegal recruitment
• Penalties for illegal recruitment
• Identify an illegal recruiter
• How to avoid illegal recruitment
• Modus operandi of illegal recruiters
• Policy on immigration consultants

NEWS RELEASES
ADVISORIES
PHOTOS

OFW Advisory

100,000 jobs in Spain not yet available
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration is not accepting applications for jobs in Spain and the reported 100,000 jobs are not yet available pending the guidelines for the recruitment of Filipino workers for the said country.
   There are no such job orders yet from employers in Spain except  those from Servicio De Prevencion De Riesgos Grupo Los Nogales for the projecto piloto or pilot project for caregivers. The foreign principal  is represented in the Philippines by Sunace International Management Services. The job order was approved by the POEA on March 22, 2006.
  The job order included vacancies for nurses, occupational and physical therapists, and caregivers.

Saudi to punish illegal foreign workers and their employers
The Shoura Council, the parliament of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, recently approved a law to publish the names of violators of the Kingdom’s residency law as well as citizens who hire overstaying foreigners for work in a news- paper where they reside.
The legislation was prodded by a report of the Security Committee urging council members to take action on the increasing number of illegal foreign workers in the Kingdom.
    A Royal Decree also punishes the employer with SR100,000 fine and two years imprisonment, and SR50,000 fine and a jail term of one year for the illegal worker.

UAE cracks down on illegal workers
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration cautions applicants for  overseas jobs against going to work in the United Arab Emirates using tourist visas.
   The UAE immigration authorities are currently conducting a random check among establishments and companies to determine if they are employing expatriates with tourist visas.  This is clear indication that immigration authorities are now seriously implementing the prohibition for visit visa holders to work, paid or unpaid, either on a part-time or full time basis.
   Visit visa holders found to be violating the law are subject to immediate deportation following their detention for seven days while their employer face penalty.

 

Warning on fake jobs in Europe
   The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong warned of an illegal recruitment scheme which offers spurious jobs in Italy, Spain, Portugal and other European countries.
   Some Filipinos and Chinese individuals have been illegally recruiting domestic helpers in Hong Kong for non-existent jobs in Europe.
   The victims were lured into paying HK$25,000 to HK$40,000 for their plane tickets and the processing of their tourist visas.

Jobs in Macau not readily available
   The POEA reiterates its earlier warning to job applicants that there are not much jobs available in Macau even as 10 Filipino victims of illegal recruitment were repatriated from Hong Kong.
   The victims arrived in Macau last January 15, 2006 and found out that there is no job vacancy waiting for them. The victims were advised  by the Philippine Consulate to return to the Philippines because of lack of documents for further stay in Macau.
   Macau is implementing its localization program where local residents are given priority in the recruitment, particularly those who are qualified for basic level jobs.
   Foreign workers are allowed only to fill up shortage occupations in Macau like supervisors in the executive, finance, casino, gaming operations, hotel and restaurant, information technology and marketing departments.
   Non-residents who are working without valid work permits will be penalized up to 20,000 patacas and will be banned to work in Macau for two years.