OFWs told: Get work, not tourist, visas

Philippine Overseas Labor Employment office. Photo from www.poea.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines—Visitor visas are for tourists, work visas are for workers.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (Poea) issued this warning on Thursday, advising Filipinos taking on overseas jobs to make sure they have approved work permits or work visas before leaving the country.

“Foreign workers without the proper employment documents cannot work legally in any country and are a constant target of crackdowns on illegal expatriates. They are also more prone to abuse and exploitation by employers,” Poea Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said in a statement.

Cacdac said job applicants should not be easily swayed by illegal recruiters and traffickers who promise immediate deployment to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries where visitor visas are not required for citizens of member nations.

The Poea chief also advised Filipino workers not to accept job offers if they are made to leave using tourist or student visas, even with assurances from the recruiters that the latter would find them employment upon arrival in the country of destination.

“The legal way is to obtain an employment contract and employment visa or work permit and submit them to the Poea for processing and issuance of exit clearance,” Cacdac said.

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