by Katrina Hallare, Philippine Daily Inquirer, May 22, 2019
MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) recently intercepted three would-be Filipina trafficking victims bound for Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
BI port operations division chief Grifton Medina said that the three Filipinas were intercepted on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 by members of the bureau’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU).
The three women presented valid UAE visas and job contracts.
Their overseas employment certificates, however, turned out to be fake, as verified by Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) personnel at the airport.
Medina said that while the three Filipinas’ job contracts showed they were hired as kitchen staff, waitress and sales assistant, they were actually flying to Dubai to work as domestic helpers.
“This upgrading of work is another scheme by illegal recruiters. Their victims are made to appear that they were recruited for high paying jobs when, in fact, they would be getting meager salaries, often even lower than what household service workers receive,” Medina said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Victims would agree in exchange for a promise of quick processing of their work papers,” Medina added.
BI –Naia 3 TCEU head Anthony Lopez said that the three women, when asked, could not identify the manpower agency that recruited them.
“The two of them admitted that they applied for their jobs via Facebook while the other one could not say how she was introduced to or recruited by her handlers,” Lopez said.
The three were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation and assistance.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente urged Filipinos who want to work overseas to transact only with licensed recruitment agencies, and refrain from accepting offers online without verifying the recruiter.
“These syndicates are experts in the art of deception, and will sweet-talk you to believe their lies,” Morente said.
“Always check and double check with the POEA for the legitimacy of job offers you get.” (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)
March –
IT’S WOMEN’S MONTH!
“Respect and support women
every day of the year/s!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week;
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and “
Made-in-the-Philippines Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
March 4: Employee Appreciation Day
March 15: World Consumer Rights Day
March 18: Global Recycling Day
March 21: International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination
March 23: International Day for the Right to the Truth
Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations
and for the Dignity of Victims
March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the
Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
March 27: Earth Hour
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
