The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has issued a strong warning to Filipino workers abroad about the risks associated with illegal recruitment schemes known as ‘third country recruitment’, which are often promoted on social media. This alert follows the arrest of several Filipinos in Nigeria’s Abuja and Lagos, accused of cybercrime, economic sabotage, and immigration law violations. The Philippine Embassy in Abuja has reported potential human trafficking cases involving Filipinos being lured to Nigeria and other West African nations. These individuals were misled into traveling from Dubai to Nigeria on tourist visas, under the false promise that their work permits would be arranged upon arrival. However, Nigerian law prohibits the conversion of tourist visas into work permits. The DMW emphasized that all foreign workers, including Filipinos, must secure a Subject to Regularization (STR) visa from the Nigerian Embassy in the Philippines before seeking employment in Nigeria. It is illegal for Filipinos to enter Nigeria on a tourist visa with the intent to work. The DMW advises OFWs to use only DMW-accredited recruitment agencies to obtain overseas employment documents, which offer protections against labor abuses and emergency support. The ‘third country recruitment’ scheme preys on OFWs already working abroad, enticing them with promises of better-paying jobs in another country. The DMW urges OFWs and prospective OFWs to be vigilant against questionable job offers on social media and to report any suspicious recruitment activities to the nearest Migrant Workers Office or Philippine Embassy. Reports of illegal recruitment and human trafficking can also be made to the DMW Migrant Workers Protection Bureau via their social media, email, or hotline. The DMW clarifies that third country recruitment is illegal unless both the recruiter and employer are duly authorized by the Philippine government.
Filipino Workers Alerted to Dangers of ‘Third Country Recruitment’ Scams
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