Extension officer Ma. Teresa Tanquiamco of the Department of Labor and Employment in Siquijor said she has requested the Philippine Oversease Employment Agency to investigate the status of illegal recruitment in the province.

The POEA said illegal recruiters pose as representatives of employers abroad, and tell their prospects they can facilitate fast and easy deployment in high-paying jobs abroad through their connections with the government and embassies.

These people, the POEA said, charge between P5,000 and P40,000 or even more for processing, registration and visa fee and does not issue receipts. They sometimes stay in hotels, medical clinics or in areas where they can not be easily detected by the authorities.

Tanquiamco advised jobseekers, particularly those who want to work abroad, to be on guard against illegal recruitment activities and verify first with the POEA the authenticity of jobs and legality of their recruitment.

She said that for local employment, applicants should ask for certificate of recruitment signed by the regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment and for overseas employment, special recruitment authority issued and signed by the POEA administrator.

Recruitment agencies from Manila or elsewhere outside Siquijor, can only conduct recruitment in the provinces by reporting either at the POEA office or any place designated by the POEA.

They should be able to produce a provincial recruitment authority which is being issued by the POEA central office, she said.

Those interested in applying for overseas jobs, she added, should be careful in dealing with people especially those doing house-to-house visits to scout for prospects and collect fees.*RG

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