The SUN HK : Migrant workers warned anew against cross-country work

Cacdac issuing the warning in a live video posted on DMW's Facebook page

No less than the officer-in-charge of the Department of Migrant Workers has taken to posting a video on Facebook to warn overseas Filipino workers from taking up jobs in countries other than where they were issued an employment visa, or what is more popularly known as cross-country work.

OIC Hans Cacdac made the warning in a live post on the DMW Facebook page yesterday, saying he will soon be issuing a formal directive against the practice of third country hiring.

In particular, he mentioned the cases of OFWs who were issued work visas in Saudi Arabia, but after taking a vacation in the Philippines, pass by Dubai, Arab Emirates where they get off and try their luck finding employment there.

DETALYE

In many cases, he said the workers end up being distressed, and forced to seek shelter at DMW-run facilities in Dubai. Cacdac said this is why they should not take the risk of going there and try to look for employment while on a tourist or visitor’s visa.

According to the accompanying caption of his video, such practice also poses serious risks for OFWs who “are lured by promises of better employment but often end up as victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking syndicates.”

But not only Saudi-bound OFWs end up taking their chances in Dubai, where even tourists are able to secure employment visas if they get lucky enough to find employers willing to sign them up.

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Many OFWs in Hong Kong who are forced to exit the city when their contracts are terminated prematurely choose to go to Dubai instead of back to their hometowns in the Philippines, knowing that they will have to shell out money again and wait for at least six weeks before they could come and work here again.

One of them was MJ, who decided to take the plunge last month after being forced to terminate her contract when her Hong Kong employer wrongly accused her of theft. As she had a sister who was already in Dubai, MJ decided to fly there instead of using the return air ticket paid for by her employer

MJ was among the lucky few who immediately found work as a caregiver through an agency she was referred to. She said her current employer is kind, and her work mostly involves looking after a young kid.

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As for those who end up getting stuck in the affluent city with no money or work, she said they probably cast their lot with rogue agencies which unfortunately, outnumber those who provide good service now because of the surge in demand.

But Dubai is not the only destination of choice for many OFWs, particularly those who used to work in Hong Kong. Quite a number have moved to places such as Poland, the Netherlands and Finland, attracted by the higher salary and a job upgrade.

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The downside is, they go there at their own risk as they are not covered by any bilateral agreement between the Philippines and their host country, which would protect their rights and ensure they don’t end up being exploited or trafficked.