The government reiterates its warning to aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) against falling prey to trafficking and illegal recruitment scams.
According to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), human trafficking remains a significant threat to Filipinos, as illegal recruiters exploit vulnerable citizens, in effect engaging in modern-day slavery.
The BI said the recruiters often offer unrealistic working conditions, promising a better life abroad, only for the victims to find themselves overworked but underpaid, and times do not get any compensation at all.
On Monday, a human trafficking victim admitted to Immigration agents that she was a victim of illegally recruited. Initially, the woman said she was going on a four-day tour in Macau and Hong Kong.
However, she had an apparent change of heart and mind, and later said she no longer wanted to leave, confessing that she was actually bound for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for employment as a household service worker.
The woman stated that she was recruited by a Filipina whom she met on Facebook, and was offered a monthly salary of P30,000.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that the woman made the right decision, which could have saved her from exploitation abroad.
“We are glad that our constant reminders are reaching our kababayan. Ultimately, the decision to protect oneself would come from the individual. Let us not put ourselves in danger by agreeing to depart through illegal means,” he said.
The case was immediately endorsed to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, which provided assistance and initiated an investigation against the victim’s recruiter.
In 2021, the BI foiled a total of 688 attempts of human trafficking and illegal recruitment in the country’s international ports.
In the same year, the agency stopped the departure of 13,680 passengers with suspicious documents.