QUEZON CITY, (PIA) — Acting on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to protect Filipino workers, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is intensifying efforts to combat rampant online job scams targeting Filipinos seeking to work abroad, often luring applicants with good pay, but eventually forcing them to work in overseas “scam hubs.”
DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac has reported active collaboration with social media platforms, resulting in over 73,714 takedowns of fraudulent job postings on Facebook and TikTok.
“We conduct daily monitoring and actively cooperate with Meta to fight syndicates posing as legitimate recruitment agencies,” Cacdac said. Efforts are also underway to increase online surveillance teams, following suggestions during Senate discussions.
The DMW provides active support to rescued victims, including post-arrival assistance and financial aid from the AKSYON Fund through Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs), like the one situated in Bangkok. Testimonies are gathered to prosecute illegal recruiters.
Lawrence, an aspiring overseas Filipino worker (OFW), shared his thoughts. “As someone hoping to work abroad for the first time, reading about these scams is really worrying.”
Knowing that DMW is actively removing fake online job posts and has a hotline, Lawrence feels assured and gives him more confidence to pursue his application.
“It dispels the negative idea of getting scammed. It feels safer knowing they (DMW) are watching out for us even before we leave the country,” he said.
To further protect OFWs, the DMW plans to establish new MWOs in high-risk countries like Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar this year.
The agency continues to work closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) for immediate rescue operations and legal action against perpetrators.
The DMW’s 24/7 hotline 1348 and their online portal, onlineservices.dmw.gov.ph, are open and available for all OFW concerns and inquiries. You can also email them at [email protected]. (JLN/PIA-NCR)
