Filipino Philippine Overseas Foreign Workers

Filipino Overseas Foreign Workers

In 2010, there are a total of 1.47 million Filipino Overseas Foreign Workers.

• 23.6% are sea-based and the rest are land-based
• 46.5% go to the Middle East
• Top 10 destinations are for land-based are : Saudi Arabia, UAE, Hong Kong, Qatar, Singapore, Kuwait, Taiwan, Italy, Bahrain, Canada.
• Major occupations are: Service worker, production worker, professional medical and technical related, clerical, sales, and administrative.
• Top 10 destinations for sea-based are: Panama, Bahamas, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Singapore, Malta, Italy, UK, Netherlands, Bermuda.

To check if the Recruitment Agency or the Recruiter is Valid or Not, click here

Just because the name is on the list, it doesn’t mean they are valid. Don’t accept a reason that their license is still being processed. They have to be fully licensed. Remember, it is your money they are taking. Don’t make it “T.Y.” money. If the deal sounds too good, don’t sign up. Find out from POEA if the deal they are offering is true. You make a call to POEA. Yes, it costs money but how much is the money you lost in calling POEA compared to the money you will pay to the illegal recruiter? So protect yourself and be informed.

You have to look closer at the status. The status should say Valid License and has a Validity Date.

Here’s an example of the information:

Company Name
Company Address
Company Tel No/s
Company Email Address :
Company Website :
Company Official Representative
License Status : Valid License (OK)
License Validity : 7/20/2011 to 7/19/2015

If you see the Recruiter or Recruitment Agency status says: Cancelled, Delisted, Denied Renewal, Expired, Forever Banned, Inactive, and Suspended, then stay away from these companies. Do not give them any money.

Tips given by POEA on How to Avoid Illegal Recruiters

1. Do not apply at recruitment agencies not licensed by POEA.
2. Do not deal with licensed agencies without job orders.
3. Do not deal with any person who is not an authorized representative of a licensed agency.
4. Do not transact business outside the registered address of the agency. If recruitment is conducted in the province, check if the agency has a provincial recruitment authority.
5. Do not pay more than the allowed placement fee. It should be equivalent to one month salary, exclusive of documentation and processing costs.
6. Do not pay any placement fee unless you have a valid employment contract and an official receipt.
7. Do not be enticed by ads or brochures requiring you to reply to a Post Office (P.O.) Box, and to enclose payment for processing of papers.
8. Do not deal with training centers and travel agencies, which promise overseas employment.
9. Do not accept a tourist visa.
10. Do not deal with fixers.

How Illegal Recruiters Work

1. Escort Services – Undocumented  workers are escorted at the airport or any international  exit to evade checkpoints set to check on the documents of workers.
2. Tourist–Worker Scheme – Workers leave the country purportedly as tourist but in reality is being deployed as worker abroad.
3. Assumed Identity – Workers particularly minors are deployed abroad under an assumed identity.
4. Direct Hiring – Workers are hired by foreign employers without the intervention of licensed recruitment agencies and are deployed undocumented and without protection.
5. Trainee Worker Scheme – Hired workers are deployed allegedly not for employment but for training purposes only and will return to sending company after training.
6. Backdoor Points Scheme – Workers are sent abroad not through regular exit channels like airports but are deployed usually through cargo ships.
7. Tie-Up System – Unlicensed recruiters with foreign principals who are usually in the blacklist use the name and offices of licensed recruiters in their illegal activity.
8. Visa Assistance/Consultancy Scheme – Firms that offer services including the pairing of workers with foreign employers and promising applicants immigrant visas but are in reality engaged in the recruitment business.
9. Blind Ads Scheme – Workers are enticed to apply and send cash payments addressed to a Postal Office Box without the worker having the opportunity to communicate personally with the recruiter.

Ang illegal recruiter ay:

1. agad naniningil ng placement fee o anumang kaukulang bayad nang walang resibo
2. nangangako ng madaliang pag-alis patungo sa ibang bansa
3. nagre-require agad ng medical examination o training kahit wala pang malinaw na employer o kontrata
4. nakikipag-transaksiyon sa mga aplikante sa mga pampublikong lugar tulad ng restaurant, mall, atbpa. at hindi sa opisina ng lisensyadong ahensiya
5. bahay-bahay kung mag-recruit ng mga aplikante
6. hindi nagbibigay ng sapat na impormasyon tungkol sa ina-aplayang trabaho
7. nagsasabi na may kausap na direct employer at ang mga aplikante ay di na kailangang dumaan sa POEA
8. nangangako ng mabilis na pag-alis ng aplikante gamit ang tourist o visit visa
9. walang maipakitang employment contract o working visa
10. nagpapakilala na empleyado ng isang lisensyadong recruitment agency ngunit walang maipakitang ID
11. nagpapakilala na konektado sa isang travel agency o training center
12. nanghihikayat sa mga aplikante na mangalap ng iba pang aplikante upang mapabilis ang pagpapaalis
13. walang maibigay na sapat at tamang impormasyon tungkol sa sarili tulad ng buong pangalan o address
14. nangangako na ang mga dokumento ay ipapasok sa POEA para mai-process (lalo na sa kaso ng EPS-Korea)

Report the agency, person or recruiter to POEA if you see or experience any of the above before you get victimized.

Why play victim? Find out for yourself before you lose all the money you will pay.

POEA Information

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration
EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City, Philippines
632 722 1144 – 632 722 1155
info@poea.gov.ph

POEA Regional Offices

POEA Regional Center for Luzon
2nd Flr. LZK-Zambrano Bldg., Quezon Ave.
City of San Fernando, La Union
(072) 242-5608 (telefax)
072) 700-4236

POEA Satellite Office. Region II
2nd Floor. Syncanco Building
Bonifacio St., Tuguegarao City
(078) 844-3076 (telefax)

POEA Regional Ext. Unit-CAR
Benitez Court Compound
Magsaysay Avenue, Baguio City
(074) 442-9478
(074) 445-4209 (telefax)

POEA Satellite Office – Region III
One Stop Clark Processing for OFW
Claro M. Recto, Clark
Angeles City, Pampanga
(045) 893 4152

POEA Satellite Office – Region IV
No. 4 Penthouse, Hectan Commercial Center
Chipeco Avenue, Brgy. Halang Calamba City
4027 Laguna
(049) 834-7974 (telefax)

POEA Regional Center for Visayas
Ground Flr. DOLE-RO7 Building
General Maxilom Avenue Corner Gorordo Avenue
Cebu City
(032) 256-0435
(032) 412-2939/ 2949
(032) 256-0334 (fax)

POEA Regional Ext. Unit – Region VI
2nd Floor, S. C. Divinagracia Bldg.
Quezon St., Iloilo City
(033) 335-1058 (telefax)
(033) 336-8611

POEA Satellite Office
2nd Floor, UTC Building
Araneta-Alunan St., Singcang
Bacolod City
(034) 434-7391 (telefax)

POEA Satellite Office
DOLE Compound, Trece Martirez
Tacloban City
(053) 321-7134 (telefax)

POEA Regional Center for Mindanao
2nd Flr., AMYA II Bldg.
Quimpo Blvd. cor. Tulip Drive
Ecoland, Davao City
(082) 297-7429 (telefax)
(082) 297-7640/7428
(082) 297-7650
(02) 4870639

POEA Regional Ext. Unit – Region IX
Rm. 201 & 202 Fermin Bldg.
Veterans Ave. Zamboanga City
(062) 992-5523

POEA Regional Ext. Unit – Region X
Ground Floor Trinidad Bldg.
Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City
(08822) 724-824 (telefax)

Satellite OfficeDoor 2, Nimfa Tiu Bldg IIJP Rosales Avenue
Butuan City

One Stop Processing Center
Initiative for Tawi Tawi Area
Devt. Foundation Bldg.
Old Housing Proj., Tubig Boh
Bongao, Tawi Tawi
(068) 2681 309