Fifty-eight female overseas Filipino worker applicants were rescued from an alleged unregistered accommodation facility in Parañaque City, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration said Sunday.
The rescue and closure operation was carried out on Saturday by the Department of Migrant Workers and OWWA after authorities found the facility to be allegedly unregistered, overcrowded, unsafe and non-compliant with standards for housing overseas job applicants.
The women were preparing to leave for domestic work in the Middle East.
Following the operation, OWWA provided transportation assistance and transferred the workers to a temporary shelter operated by one of the agency’s partner facilities.
The agency also conducted welfare assessments, documentation, case management and other interventions to ensure the women’s safety, well-being and continued access to appropriate government services.
OWWA said it is coordinating with the Department of Migrant Workers and other government agencies to provide protection, welfare assistance and referral services while the applicants’ cases are being addressed.
Earlier this week, the Department of Migrant Workers warned Filipinos seeking jobs overseas about the risks posed by illegal recruiters.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said some illegally recruited workers have ended up being forced into criminal activities, including operations at cyber scam hubs.
The department also warned that workers recruited through illegal channels are more vulnerable to labor exploitation because authorities are unable to verify or review the terms of their employment contracts.
