The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) warned the Filipino workers against the new “tourist-to-refugee” scheme which promises job deployment to Japan using only a tourist visa.
The POEA started the investigation after receiving a tip-off from the Office of the Undersecretary Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) about a Manila-based broker who was allegedly involved in illegal recruitment, Business Mirror reported.
According to OUMWA, a certain “Mara” was recruiting the Filipinos via social media.
The broker was said to have charged the victims P55,000 to P95,000 as payment for the fraud employment documents, bank statements, and visa application before sending them to Saitama Prefecture in Japan as tourists.
The victims, upon their arrival, were then ordered by the illegal recruiters to apply for a refugee visa for employment purposes at the Immigration Bureau of Japan.
Meanwhile, the POEA warned the Filipinos not to be involved in illegal practice for they may be fined and face other sanctions from the Japanese government.
“Applicants may look for licensed recruitment agencies and approved job orders at the POEA web site’s verification system, or the POEA app using smart phone,” the POEA said.
