Philippine Embassy in Myanmar cautions Filipinos against fraudulent job offers

January 26 ------ THE Philippine Embassy in Myanmar warned Filipinos against accepting suspicious job offers in Myanmar. In an advisory, the embassy warned Filipinos against “fraudulent recruitment schemes that may lead to human trafficking, particularly those linked to scam hub operations in mainland Southeast Asia.” It said that many Filipinos “have already fallen victim to these deceptive schemes, resulting in exploitation, detention, and other serious consequences.” The embassy advised Filipinos seeking overseas employment to accept only legitimate job offers duly verified by the Department of Migrant Workers prior to departure from the Philippines. “Foreign nationals found without proper documentation, overstaying, or engaging in unauthorized work may be subject to detention, fines, and deportation,” it added.

The embassy on Saturday said Filipinos “who may have fallen victim to illegal recruitment or human trafficking and are currently in Myanmar” should seek immediate assistance. “Beware of false job offers. Recent cases confirm that positions advertised under misleading titles such as ‘Customer Service Representative’ have been used as fronts for trafficking-in-persons,” it said.

Any suspicious recruitment activity should be reported immediately to Philippine authorities before accepting an offer or traveling abroad, the embassy said. It reminded Filipinos to “avoid unlicensed recruiters.” Employment must be processed through authorized agencies, and travelers must possess complete and valid employment and immigration documents before leaving the Philippines. The embassy said that working abroad without proper documentation exposes individuals to heightened risks of abuse, trafficking, and detention.

Source: manilatimes.net