Beware of unscrupulous individuals recruiting Filipinos for non-existent jobs in Haiti, which is still reeling from the devastation of a major earthquake.
This was the reminder of the Philippine Embassy in Cuba, after receiving reports of an alleged recruitment scheme to bring in Filipino workers in Haiti.
“Port-Au-Prince was recently ravaged by a major earthquake on January 12 that killed more than 250,000 people. It does not have job opportunities at all for ‘walk-in’ applicants," Philippine Ambassador to Cuba Macarthur Corsino said in a release posted on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) website.
The warning was issued in the light of reports from Philippine Honorary Consul in Haiti Fitzgerald Brandt about two Filipinos being recently stranded penniless in a beach resort in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince after being promised jobs in the country.
The recruitment scheme was allegedly hatched by Philippine-based recruiters in connivance with Haitian nationals and supposedly Haiti-based Filipinos. Most of the victims are from Laguna, the release added.
“The city’s infrastructure and business establishments suffered tremendously from the tragedy. It is still in the process of recovery, and any available jobs are given first to qualified local Haitians and those with prior approved contracts addressed to specifically needed skills related to reconstruction," Corsino added.
The Embassy likewise warned Filipinos against illegally entering the country to look for jobs by pretending to be tourists.
Jobseekers may end up being stranded, penniless and homeless in the earthquake-ravaged country, after paying big amounts to recruiters, the release stated.
“Any promise of available jobs in Haiti is false and is punishable as illegal recruitment and human smuggling," it added.—Jerrie M. Abella/JV.
