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)
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
“Safety and health at work every day!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
March – Women’s Role in History Month
April – Month of Planet Earth
Weekly Observances:
Last Week of March: Protection and Gender Fair Treatment of the Girl Child Week
Last Week of April – World Immunization Week
Daily Observances:
Mar 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transallantic Slave Trade
Mar 27– Earth Hour
Apr 21 – Civil Service Day
Apr 22 – World Earth Day
Apr 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
