"Illegal Recruitment, Menace of the Society"
Courtesy of: International Skill Development, Inc.
To paraphrase former POEA Administrator Tomas D. Achacoso, "illegal recruitment is one of the most detestable crimes a Filipino can commit to another Filipino. It so debases a man that victims including their kin suffer in the consequent loss of face and properties and possible ostracism in the community. It is a crime that has brought about misery to thousands of innocent victims and their families".
Every year hundreds of victims suffer financially and emotionally while the perpetrator enjoys the loot of their crimes. Some come forward and complain others (true Filipino trait) remain silent in shame. Illegal recruitment has caused some families to break up. Criminal cases crop up as a result of non-payment of loans obtained to settle placement fees for non-existing jobs abroad. Others had gone to the highlands and joined leftist group rather than face their creditors and be subjected to humiliation by friends, neighbors and even family members.
Campaign against illegal recruitment has been one of the major activities of several offices of the government. DOLE and POEA, the front-runner of this campaign, including Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation vigorously joined forces together to fight and eradicate illegal recruitment activities. Are they successful? The answer would be, no. Illegal recruitment cases maybe lesser in numbers as compared in the 80's, but this not necessarily mean illegal recruitment has been eradicated. Illegal recruiters are still out there waiting for innocent dreamers of high paying job.
But how to eradicate illegal recruitment? Illegal recruitment has been with us for so long yet it seems that not much has been done about it. We all know that illegal recruitment is a crime. But why let ourselves be a victim after all? Is it because we want to gamble, win and take it all? Or it is a simple failure on our part to recognize what is genuine and what is not.
The keywords are failure to recognize what is genuine and what is not. No person in his right mind would like to be gypped. Walang taong gustong maloko.
Illegal recruitment is pure and simple "Pangloloko" and illegal recruiters are con artists and masters in the art of fraud and cheating.
Therefore the best way to eradicate illegal recruitment is for us to recognize what is genuine and what is not.
Who Performs Illegal Recruitment?
Illegal recruitment activities are being practiced by the following:
How to Spot an Illegal Recruiters?
How to Detect Unlicensed Recruitment Agencies
How to Detect Unscrupulous Licensed Agencies
How to Avoid Being a Victim
What to do if you become a Victim