Japanese promoters shun Filipino entertainers

Japanese and other foreign employers are now trying to avoid recruiting Filipino workers due to an alleged "shakedown" by the Presidential Anti-Illegal Recruitment Task Force (PAIRTF).

Recruitment leaders warned yesterday that the alleged money-making activities of elements of PAIRTF could lead to further drop in hiring of Filipino workers abroad.

Officials of various recruitment agencies said many Japanese and Korean promoters are now hesitant to go the Philippines to recruit workers because of their unpleasant experience with PAIRTF operatives.

"There were instances during auditions for overseas performing artists (OPAs) when members of the task force barged in and hauled Japanese and Korean promoters to undisclosed places and accused them of being illegal recruiters," said a recruitment official, who requested anonymity.

The local recruiter claimed that foreign promoters were later released after shelling out money to PAIRTF operatives.

"These illegal activities have scared Japanese promoters and managers who visit the country to personally conduct audition or interview prospective entertainers," the source explained.

Under the guise of searching for illegal recruiters, elements of PAIRTF also raid offices of recruitment agencies that are duly licensed to recruit workers, the source added.

"After getting money from arrested individuals, PAIRTF would submit flawed charge sheets, prompting fiscals to dismiss the case for certain technicalities," he said.

President Arroyo formed PAIRTF in July last year upon the recommendation of licensed recruitment agencies to create a special group that would address the worsening illegal recruitment problem in the country.

The industry, however, noted that since its establishment, PAIRTF is yet to arrest big time illegal recruiters or file a case that resulted in conviction of illegal recruiters.

Instead of running after illegal recruiters and protecting the rights of prospective overseas workers, local recruiters said the PAIRTF seems to be hastening the demise of the industry.

"If these operations continue we fear that many Filipinos would no longer be able to pursue their dream of working abroad," the source said.