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Thursday, February 6, 2025

DMW warns Filipinos seeking jobs abroad from illegal ‘third country recruitment’

The Department of Migrant Workers (DWM) on Monday warned Filipinos seeking jobs abroad from “third country recruitment” schemes by illegal recruiters and syndicates proliferating in social media platforms.

The DMW issued the statement after a group of Filipinos were arrested in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria, on allegations of cybercrime, economic sabotage, and violations of Nigerian immigration laws.

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Reports from the Philippine Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, said the Filipinos were victims of human trafficking who were duped to work in Nigeria and other countries in West Africa.

These Filipinos were recruited to travel to Nigeria from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, using tourist visas and were led to believe their permits would be processed upon their arrival in Nigeria.

The Nigerian government does not allow the conversion of tourist visas for employment. To work in Nigeria, a Filipino must first secure a Subject to Regularization (STR) visa from the Nigerian Embassy in the Philippines.

The DMW informs the public that recruitment through a third country is considered illegal recruitment if neither the recruiter nor the employer has proper authorization from the Philippine government.

Filipinos are always required to secure their overseas employment documents through the DMW-accredited recruitment agencies to ensure their benefits, including protection from labor malpractice and assistance in case of emergency.

The DMW likewise urged overseas Filipino workers and jobseekers to be more cautious against dubious overseas job offers on social media platforms and to immediately report any suspicious recruitment activities to the respective Migrant Workers Office and the Philippine Embassy that has jurisdiction.

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