THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) yesterday lamented the participation of some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the proliferation of the “third country recruitment” scheme.
In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), DMW Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said it is unfortunate that OFWs have become “willing victims” in the illegal recruitment scheme.
“This is a fair warning to all OFWs because they are so-called willing victims of this practice,” said Cacdac.
Third-country hiring is a scheme wherein deployed OFWs are being illegally recruited to work in another country.
There are also cases wherein OFWs seek employment in a transit destination instead of going to the country where they are supposed to be employed.
The DMW chief cited as an example recent cases of vacationing OFWs hired in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
He said some have attempted to find jobs in the United Arab Emirates, their transit destination before reaching KSA.
According to Cacdac, third-country hiring is unacceptable as most of those involved in such activities eventually become distressed OFWs and seek shelter in the Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs).
“Do not try to find other jobs because that is a recipe to become a distressed worker or have problems with employment,” he said.
“There have been many cases where the OFWs end up being distressed and are in our shelter,” added Cacdac.
