Jobseekers urged to check recruiters

CEBU, Philippines - The director of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas advised jobseekers to check the background of the company and the people behind it before applying for a job.

Lawyer Max Salvador issued the advice after about 100 job applicants of a recruitment agency in Mandaue City sought the NBI assistance because they were reportedly swindled.

“Check the company first and the people behind the company,” Salvador said.

Salvador said job applicants should verify with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration if the agency they are applying for a job is registered.

At least 100 applicants filed a complaint against a recruitment agency last week after finding out that the company is not authorized to recruit workers.

NBI agent Donaver Inesin is already looking into the complaint. The Freeman, however, withheld the name of the agency pending the filing of a case in court.

The complainants claimed that they were offered jobs in Japan. The company allegedly collected a minimum amount of P11,000 to cover for the skills training before the deployment.

The complainants said they were surprised to learn that the agency is not registered with POEA because the company had advertised itself in a local tabloid.

The agency is facing possible criminal case in court for illegal recruitment.

According to the POEA, illegal recruitment is “any act of canvassing, enlisting, contracting, transporting, utilizing, hiring or procuring workers, and includes referring, contract services, promising or advertising for employment abroad, whether for profit or not, when undertaken by a non-license or non-holder of authority contemplated under Article 13 (F) of Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines.” — (FREEMAN)