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Visit visas, no guarantee for overseas jobs - POEA
By Rose Palacio
Davao City (28 June 2005) -- Visit visas are no guarantee for overseas jobs, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Mindanao field office chief Francis Domingo said.

The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates has reported an increase in the number of Filipinos who arrived in the UAE on visit visas and ended up victims of fixers and illegal job recruiters.

POEA issued the warning to warn visit visas travelers not to fall prey to fixers who charge as much as P100,000 in exchange for a visit visa and promise of a job upon arrival in the UAE.

In many cases, the promise of a job does not materialize and the poor jobseeker is left with the option of either returning to the Philippines empty handed or look for work on his or her own before the visit visa expires in a month or two.

Some companies exploit the situation and offer only menial jobs and salaries much lower than other expatriate workers who arrive on employment visa.

The most vulnerable are some Filipino women who are exploited and forced into prostitution.

POEA advised those looking for work overseas not to leave using a visit visa but instead exert effort to have an employment visa before leaving by dealing with legal and accredited recruitment agencies accredited by the POEA.

"We have a daily publication of those accredited agencies in newspapers of general circulation so the public will be guided of these recruitment agencies accredited by POEA", said Domingo.

Victims are spending so much hoping to have an employment abroad only to end up victims of harassment, extortion, abuse, substandard wages and working conditions, imprisonment and deportation.

"Leave on an employment visa with a job contract attested by POEA. This will save you from much grief and heartache," Domingo said.

Always bear in mind that a visit visa is not a guarantee that you will find work in the country of destination abroad. Always ask information from the POEA Mindanao field office located at Ecoland, Davao City. (PIA-RPalacio)

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