SEN. Raffy Tulfo on Thursday raised concerns over the growing exploitation of Filipinos seeking work overseas, warning that worsening economic pressures are pushing job seekers into the hands of illegal recruiters.
Speaking during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development, Tulfo said job displacement and the sudden return of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the Middle East war intensified vulnerabilities among workers.
“Many of us are seeking opportunities abroad to have a stable job. But when people are in need, they accept illegal jobs; they are either forced into it, or they easily fall for the job offers of illegal recruiters,” Tulfo said in Filipino.
He presented several cases involving Filipino workers who were allegedly misled, including women recruited as massage therapists for jobs in Malaysia but who reportedly ended up in exploitative conditions.
He also cited instances of applicants enticed by high-paying offers in Japan and Canada only to face abusive or fraudulent arrangements upon arrival.
“With the desperation of people today, opportunities have opened up for those who want to abuse Filipino workers’ needs and to hire them for illegal jobs,” the senator said.
Emphasizing the need for stronger deterrence, Tulfo urged a review of accountability mechanisms for illegal recruiters and traffickers. He suggested that current penalties may be insufficient to curb the persistence of such crimes.
“It seems lacking,” he said, pointing out that illegal recruitment cases continue to surface despite numerous laws and policies already in place.
