Jobs Abroad


For my fellow Filipinos who are desperate and very eager to land a job in an international passenger or cruise ship. I’ll be giving some guidelines and tips that will surely make applicants qualified to apply even if they’re high school graduate or college undergraduate. Also, I’ll be giving guidelines on how not to be financially abused by some abusive manning agencies who more often than not take advantage on our poor kababayans whose only aim is to secure a Greener Pasteur for his/her family.

Before I start, I just want to refute a statement that “Working onboard a Cruise Ship is just for College Graduates” and that high school graduates don’t have any chance at all. This statement is totally FALSE.

For all those who want, wishing, desiring to work to work onboard international vessels e.g. Passenger and cruise ships, tanker, cargo and bulk ships the first major requirement is SIRB (Seafarer’s Identification Record Book) or simply called as Seaman’s book. Para makakuha kayo ng SIRB you need to undergo a SOLAS Training (Safety Of Life At Sea) or also known as BST with PSSR training (Basic Safety Training with Personal Safety and Social Responsibility). Anyone who is mentally stable and physically fit can take this training. It’s a 7 days training 6 days classroom lecture and 1 day practicum sa dagat or swimming pool. Training fee is around 4 to 6K pesos. Once you have the BST w/ PSSR certificate, you can now apply for SIRB (Seaman’s book). These are the requirements for SIRB application:

1. BST w/ PSSR certificate
2. NBI visa seaman
3. High school Diploma with Form 138 or College Diploma with TOR both documents kelangan ng CAV (Certification Authentication and Verification). For HS diploma sa DEPED kukuha ng CAV for College Diploma sa CHED.
4. Application form (libre ito at makukuha sa MARINA) – Marina is located in Taft Ave. near Kalaw
5. 2x2 picture with shoulder board
6. Fee: P850.00 to P1,500.00 (hindi ko na alam if how much na ang SIRB pero I’m sure not lower than 850 and not higher than 1,500)
Beware sa mga mag-ooffer ng non-appearance na certificate. I discouraged such activity. Very risk ito especially if ipapa authenticate na ang certificate.


Now you have an SIRB, you have completed 5% of your quest to work onboard an international vessel. Next step is checking job vacancies posted by a legitimate manning agency and assessing your qualifications (work experience, knowledge and skills etc.) against the job vacancies. I highly RECOMMEND and ADVISE all aspiring applicants to make yourself qualified first before applying. This will prevent you from incurring unwanted expenses like transportation expenses back and forth only to find out that you’re not qualified and were not selected. So make sure that you possess the right experience and trainings related to the position that you’re eyeing for.

If you’re applying for FO position, housekeeping, pool attendant or steward position, make sure you possess such working experience. Otherwise, your application will most likely be discarded. Unless you have an MBA (May Backer Ako) then that’s a different story. Very important to take note, almost all manning agency tend to give priority and select applicants (kahit undergard or highschool grad.) who has joined a vessel whether it was local or international route over applicants who have not boarded any vessel. Depending on the urgency of the job vacancy, some manning agency tend to consider applicants kahit na walang shipboard experience provided may SIRB,PASSPORT at related work experience and maritime training certificates (later we’ll talk about this training certificates). So how do you gain shipboard experience and make yourself shine over other applicants? Invest. If you are really serious in securing a work onboard a cruise ship, you need to invest to gain the necessary qualifications. If you’re undergrad or highschool graduate you need to invest in TESDA vocational maritime courses. It’s a 1 year course and at the end of the course students will be given a chance to work onboard a passenger ship as Front Office, Housekeeping crew, waiter, steward etc. This shipboard experience will be recorded in your SIRB and ALL manning agency considers it.

In my experience, we tend to hire applicants na may shipboard experience kahit highschool grad. or college undergrad against sa isang college graduate (pero wala naming shipboard experience) Reason behind this is that cruise ships enters US territories, so all crew must have a US Visa. US embassy tends to deny visa applications for seafarers na walang shipboard experience. Some agencies don’t want to take the risk, especially if the job vacancy is very urgent and the crew needs to be onboard asap. Thus, we normally choose applicants na may shipboard experience na atleast minimum 6 months regardless of your education. If the applicant’s visa application was denied after 6 months pa ulit sya pwedeng mag-apply. Sometimes there are some applicants na kahit walang shipboard experience, nakakalusot but very few. So you have the option, whether to take chances and trust your present qualifications or invest in short courses with shipboard training program increasing your chances of being hired. It’s up to you to decide. Tuition fee for this course is 12k to 15K per semester (2 semesters lang ito).

Now meron ka nang SIRB, Shipboard Experience you have completed 60% of your quest. Last thing that you will do is to take the minimum mandatory training certificates required by STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) this is the bible of Maritime Training Certificates. Dito nakasaad ano-ano ang mga required training ng isang crew for a specific vessel. Bawat barko na sasakyan ng isang crew may specific maritime training which dapat icomply. For all crew na sasakay sa cruise ship, more or less nasa mga 4 to 8 training certificates ang dapat i-take. Again, you have 2 options: 1. Invest and take these trainings as early as possible 2. Wait to be selected and saka i-take ang training. Both have advantage and disadvantage, option 1 will expedite your application and will definitely have an edge over other applicants na wala pang training. Also for urgent job vacancies ikaw ang no.1 priority for line-up dahil complete kana sa requirements. Disadvantage lang is you have to spend na agad. Option 2 will save your money for the meantime, pwede mo pang magamit ang pera mo sa ibang bagay. Disadvantage is for urgent manpower requirements definitely you will not be selected. Be very cautious for some agencies which will require you to undergo numerous trainings. Some training is not really needed. Gusto lang nila magka commission at pagka kitaan ang applicant. So if you have completed this required trainings as early as possible then you achieved 85% of your quest. The remaining 15% is on how you carry yourself during the interview.

Jobs Abroad


The OWWA or Philippine Overseas Workers Welfare Administration recently announced that it is now accepting applications from dependents of overseas Filipino workers or OFW for its college scholarship program. The scholarship program launched by OWWA, called Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP), is open to all high school graduating students in the Philippines who are children or dependents of active OWWA members.

OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon said that the scholarship program of OWWA provides an educational grant of P60,000 per year to every OWWA scholar enrolled in any four or five year course in colleges and universities in the Philippines. OWWA allots a total of P240,000 to P300,000 for each scholar for the entire duration of the scholarship.

Dimzon also said that the EDSP aims to help OWWA members to send their qualified children and dependents to first-rate schools and receive quality college education without having to worry about where to get the money to pay for their tuition fees. Under the program, OWWA will pay the tuition fee of the scholar directly to the school. Any remaining amount in the financial grant after the payment of tuition fee will be released to the scholar.

Labor attaché Luzviminda Padilla, who heads the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., is encouraging OFWs in the United States to avail of this program.

“The Filipino workers in U.S. should not miss this opportunity being offered to OWWA members. The financial grant that could be availed of under the program would certainly help their children in achieving their educational aspirations and realizing their dreams,” she said.

Meanwhile, Welfare Officer Saul de Vries, the newly designated OWWA representative in Washington, D.C., advised OFWs in the U.S. to inform their high school graduating children or dependents to file their application with the OWWA Regional Welfare Office nearest to their place of residence in the Philippines. The deadline for submission of application is on Sept. 30, 2011. Qualified applicants will undergo a competitive examination to be administered by the Department of Science and Technology on Nov. 20, 2011.

To be eligible to apply, the applicant must be: 

• a child of an OWWA member or brother/sister of an unmarried OWWA member;

• below 21 years old;

• a Filipino citizen; 

• in good health and of good moral character; 

• in the upper 20% of the high school graduating class;

• has not earned units in any post-secondary/undergraduate course; and

• not be a recipient of any scholarship award. 

OFWs interested in the program may call de Vries at telephone number 202-467-9425 or e-mail him at owwa_washingtondc@yahoo.com

Jobs Abroad


Job seekers, interested in overseas employment that promises high pay, good benefits, free traveled adventure, should be aware that there are unscrupulous operators who have devised elaborate and very convincing scams to bilk unwitting, and often desperate applicants.

Before getting swept away with promises of exotic job opportunities, make sure you have thoroughly investigated the matter and know the potential risks involved in obtaining overseas employment.

Typical Overseas Employment Scams

Unlike legitimate employment firms that have permanent addresses, many unscrupulous operators run their so-called job placement firms from out-of-state, and may provide only a post office or mail drop address. Although there are legitimate firms with post office or mail drop addresses, job applicants should be aware that this practice, when used by unscrupulous operators, makes it easier for the operators to avoid scrutiny by their clients.

In many instances, law enforcement officials investigating a suspicious firm have found a "fly-by-night" operation. The scam headquarters, with little more than a desk and a telephone, may be based in one state, but operate out of other states, making it more difficult for the officials to track the operation.

Typical overseas job scams, include: 

Firms that charge advance fees. These operations usually advertise in newspapers and magazines. The ads most frequently offer construction jobs, one of the industries hardest hit by a weak economy. Consumers who call the number, provided in the ad, are generally told that there are immediate openings available for which they are perfectly suited. But to lock in the job, they are told, they must pay a placement fee in advance.

These up-front charges can range from $50 to several thousand dollars. Firms that charge these advance fees often are so eager to get the money in their hands and avoid using the U.S. mail service that they may send a courier to pick up the deposit, or require that it be sent via overnight delivery, at the applicant's expense.

However, more often than not, these firms actually have little, or no, contacts with employers and can offer minimal assistance, despite their service charges.

Job seekers should not be duped by a firm's promise of a refund, if no job or lead materializes. Most of these firms that require payment in advance do not stay around long enough for dissatisfied customers to get their money back. 

Firms that charge a fee once they provide a job lead. A disreputable firm may fabricate job leads, or bring in a third-party to impersonate a potential employer, in order to get an applicant's fee. 

"900" number operators. A "900" number connected with employment opportunities may charge a high flat fee, or per-minute rate. In some instances,"900" number operators may fail to disclose the cost of each call or, if printed, display it in fine print. As a result, callers may not be aware of how much they are spending. Some unscrupulous operators may even increase their fees by creating delays while the caller is on the line. 

In one case, for example, a consumer answered an advertisement instructing job applicants to call an"800" toll-free number for more information. The message on that number directed the caller to dial a"900" number to find out about job openings. The"900" number, however, merely directed the caller to send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to have a job application mailed out. The consumer complied; received only a one-page generic job application, and was billed $39 for the phone call.

The FTC now requires, among other things, that operators of "900" numbers provide information on the cost of the call up front. When calling a "900" number, be sure you understand the charges before continuing with the call.  

Job listing services. There are many firms that make no promises to place you in a job. They merely sell a list of job opportunities, providing little assurance about the accuracy of the information. 

For instance, the information may be sold via a newsletter that features photocopied help-wanted ads from newspapers around the world. Many of the ads may be months old, soliciting jobs that already have been filled. In addition, the ads may not have been verified to ensure that the jobs actually exist.

Some ads may be from countries with strict quotas that discourage the hiring of foreign citizens. Other publications may promise access to information on job opportunities, but provide nothing more than a listing of employers in various regions.

How to Avoid Employment Scams

Many job seekers have lost money to disreputable advance-fee placement firms. If you decide to use an overseas job placement firm, the best way to avoid being scammed is to learn as much as you can about the operation:

Ask for references. Request both names of employers and employees the company has actually found jobs for. Scam artists will typically defend their refusal to provide the information, claiming it is a" trade secret." Or, they frequently claim that if they told you where the openings are, you would circumvent their services. These schemers may also cite privacy concerns as the reason for refusing to provide the names of people they have placed. 

Check out reliability. Contact the local Better Business Bureau, as well as the state's consumer protection agency, to find out if any complaints have been filed against the firm. 

Avoid firms that operate solely via telephone or mail. Any reputable placement firm will almost certainly need to meet you before it can market you effectively to an employer. Be suspicious of any operation that claims it can place you with an employer, without meeting and interviewing you. 

Be particularly wary of firms that operate outside of the state where they advertise. In many instances, unscrupulous operators purposefully seek to distance themselves from their clients in order to avoid closer scrutiny. If they are ultimately challenged, the distance complicates an investigation by law enforcement authorities.   

Find out how long the employment company has been in business. Also, ask what is the firm's present financial condition. Compare the company, and the services offered, with other similar firms before you pay a fee.

Get  all promises in writing. Before you pay for anything, request and obtain a written contract that describes the services the firm intends to provide. Determine whether the firm is simply going to forward your resume to a company that publicly advertised a listing, or if it will actually seek to place you with an employer. Make sure that any promise you receive in writing is the same as what was stated in the initial sales pitch. 

Research any information the firm provides to you before you make a commitment. Make certain the job actually exists before you pay a firm to "hold" a slot for you, and definitely before you make plans to relocate.

Some unfortunate job seekers have been instructed to meet at a particular place to fly to their new jobs, only to find no airline tickets, no job, and often, no more company. 

Check with the embassy of the country where the job is supposed to be located. Make certain that, as a citizen of another country, you are eligible to work there.

Ask if you will be eligible for a refund, if the leads the firm provides you are unacceptable, or do not work out for any other reason. If the firm has a refund policy, ask for specific written details that spell out whether you can expect a full refund, and if there are any time limits for receiving your refund. 

Even if you are promised a refund in a written agreement, read the fine print. A disreputable firm may include "red tape" that protects its interests, not yours.

For example, one common scam is to include a requirement that job seekers check in regularly with the firm, at their own expense. Clients who unwittingly fail to make the required contact may forfeit their opportunity for a refund. However, they are not told this until they ask for the refund.

If You Are Scammed

If you have been victimized by an employment scam, you can help prevent these types of incidents from recurring by reporting it to the proper law enforcement authorities. They may be able to put the unscrupulous operator out of business and, in extreme cases, fine them heavily or even put them in jail.

Tips To Remember

• Be very skeptical of overseas employment opportunities that sound "too good to be true."
• Never send cash in the mail, and be extremely cautious with firms that require a money order. This could indicate that the firm is attempting to avoid a traceable record of its transactions.
• Do not be fooled by official-sounding names. Many scam artists operate under names that sound like those of long-standing, reputable firms.
• Avoid working with firms that require payment in advance.
• Do not give your credit card or bank account number to telephone solicitors.
• Read the contract very carefully. Have an attorney look over any documents you are asked to sign.
• Beware of an agency that is unwilling to give you a written contract.
• Do not hesitate to ask questions. You have a right to know what services to expect and the costs involved.
• Do not make a hasty decision. Instead, take time to weigh all the pros and cons of the situation. Be wary of demands that "you must act now."
• Keep a copy of all agreements you sign, as well as copies of checks you forward to the company.

Jobs Abroad
The Nigerian scam, also known as 419

Most of you have received an email from a member of a Nigerian family with wealth. It is a desperate cry for help in getting a very large sum of money out of the country. A common variation is a woman in Africa who claimed that her husband had died, and that she wanted to leave millions of dollars of his estate to a good business.

In every variation, the scammer is promising obscenely large payments for small unskilled tasks. This scam, like most scams, is too good to be true. Yet people still fall for this money transfer con game.

They will use your emotions and willingness to help against you. They will promise you a large cut of their business or family fortune.

All you are asked to do is cover the endless legal and other fees that must be paid to the people that can release the scammer's money.

The more you are willing to pay, the more they will try to suck out of your wallet. You will never see any of the promised money, because there isn't any. And the worst thing is, this scam is not even new; its variant dates back to 1920s when it was known as 'The Spanish Prisoner' con.

Advanced fees paid for a guaranteed loan or credit card

If you are thinking about applying for a "pre-approved" loan or a credit card that charges an up-front fee, ask yourself: "why would a bank do that?".  These scams are obvious to people who take time to scrutinize the offer.

Remember: reputable credit card companies do charge an annual fee but it is applied to the balance of the card, never at the sign-up. Furthermore, if you legitimately clear your credit balance each month, a legitimate bank will often wave the annual fee.

As for these incredible, pre-approved loans for a half-a-million dollar homes: use your common sense. These people do not know you or your credit situation, yet they are willing to offer massive credit limits.

Sadly, a percentage of all the recipients of their "amazing" offer will take the bait and pay the up-front fee.

If only one in every thousand people fall for this scam, the scammers still win several hundred dollars. Alas, far too many victims, pressured by financial problems, willingly step
into this con man's trap.

Lottery scams

Most of us dream of hitting it big, quitting our jobs and retiring while still young enough to enjoy the fine things in life. Chances are you will receive at least one intriguing email from someone saying that you did indeed win a huge amount of money. The visions of a dream home, fabulous vacation, or other expensive goodies you could now afford with ease, could make you forget that you have never ever entered this lottery in the first place.

This scam will usually come in the form of a conventional email message. It will inform you that you won millions of dollars and congratulate you repeatedly. The catch: before you can collect your "winnings", you must pay the "processing" fee of several thousands of dollars.

Stop! The moment the bad guys cash your money order, you lose.

Once you realize you have been suckered into paying $3000 to a con man, they are long gone with your money. Do not fall for this lottery scam.

Phishing emails and phony web pages

This is the most widespread Internet and email scam today. It is a "sting" con game. "Phishing" is identity and password theft based on convincing emails and web pages. These emails and web pages resemble legitimate credit authorities like Citibank, eBay, or Paypal. They frighten or entice you into visiting a phony web page and entering your ID and password. Commonly, the guise is an urgent need to "confirm your identity". They will even offer you a story of how your account has been attacked by hackers to lure you into entering your confidential information.

The email message will require you to click on a link. But instead of leading you to the real login https: site, they will to a fake website. The fake website is often very convincing looking.

You then innocently enter your ID and password. This information is intercepted by the scammers, who later access your account and fleece you for several hundred dollars.

This phishing con , like all cons, depends on people believing the legitimacy or their emails and web pages. Because it was born out of hacking techniques, "fishing" is stylistically spelled "phishing" by hackers.

Tip: the beginning of the link address should have https://. Phishing fakes will just have http:// (no"s" . If still in doubt, make a phone call to the financial institution to verify if the email is legit. In the meantime, never click on the link in any suspicious email.

Items for sale overpayment scam

This one involves an item you might have listed for sale such as a car, truck or some other expensive item. The scammer finds your ad and sends you an email offering to pay much more than your asking price. The reason for overpayment is supposedly related to the international fees to ship the car overseas. In return, you are to send him the car and the cash for the difference.

The money order you receive looks real so you deposit it into your account. In a couple of days (or the time it takes to clear) your bank informs you the money order was fake and demands you pay that amount back immediately.

In most documented versions of this money order scam, the money order was indeed an authentic document, but it was never authorized by the bank it was stolen from.

In the case of cashier's checks, it is usually a convincing forgery. You have now lost the car, the cash you sent with the car, and you owe a hefty sum of money to your bank to cover for the bad money order or the fake cashier's check.

Employment scams

You have posted your resume, with at least some personal data accessible by potential employers, on a legitimate employment site. You receive a job offer to become a "financial representative" of an overseas company you have never even heard of before. The reason they want to hire you is that this company has problems accepting money from US customers and they need you to handle those payments. You will be paid 5 to 15 percent commission per transaction.

If you apply, you will provide the scammer with your personal data, such as bank account information, so you can "get paid". Instead, you will experience some, or all, of the following:

* identity theft,
* money stolen from your account, or
* may receive fake checks or money orders for payments which you deposit into your account but must send 85 – 95 percent of that to your "employer".

Soon you will owe much money to your bank! In other instance, you will receive an unsolicited e-mail message from a "multinational company"  congratulating you for being selected for a specific job. The e-mail contains details about the "hiring company", the positions needed, and a very enticing compensation package.You will be asked to send money through Western Union as processing fee or reservation fee.

Disaster relief scams

What do 9-11, Tsunami and Katrina have in common? These are all disasters, tragic events where people die, lose their loved ones, or everything they have. In times like these, good people pull together to help the survivors in any way they can, including online donations. Scammers set up fake charity websites and steal the money donated to the victims of disasters.

If your request for donation came via email, there is a chance of it being a phishing attempt. Do not click on the link in the email and volunteer your bank account or credit card information.

Your best bet is to contact the recognized charitable organization directly by phone or their website.

Travel scams

These scams are most active during the summer months. You receive an email with the offer to get amazingly low fares to some exotic destination but you must book it today or the offer expires that evening. If you call, you'll find out the travel is free but the hotel rates are highly overpriced.

Some can offer you rock-bottom prices but hide certain high fees until you 'sign on the dotted line'. Others, in order to give you the 'free' something, will make you sit through a timeshare pitch at the destination. Still others can just take your money and deliver nothing.

Also, getting your refund, should you decide to cancel, is usually a lost cause, often called a nightmare or mission-impossible.

Your best strategy is to book your trip in person, through a reputable travel agency or proven legitimate online service like Travelocity or Expedia.

"Make Money Fast" chain emails

A classic pyramid scheme: you get an email with a list of names, you are asked to send 5 dollars (or so) by mail to the person whose name is at the top of the list, add your own name to the bottom, and forward the updated list to a number of other people.

The author of this scam letter painstakingly explains that, if more and more people join this chain, when it's your turn to receive the money, you might even become a millionaire!

Bear in mind that, most times, the list of names is manipulated to keep the top name (the creator of the scam, or his friends) on top, permanently.

As with the previously circulating snail-mail version of this chain, the email edition is just as illegal. Should you choose to participate, you risk being charged with fraud “ definitely not something you want on your record, or resume.

"Turn Your Computer Into a Money-Making Machine!"

Although not a full blown scam, this scheme works as follows: You send someone money for instructions on where to go and what to download and install on your computer to turn it into a money-making machine --  for spammers.

At sign-up, you get a unique ID and you have to give them your PayPal account information for the "big money' deposits you'll soon be receiving. The program that you are supposed to run, sometimes 24/7, opens multiple ad windows, repeatedly, thus generating per-click revenue for spammers.

In other scenario, your ID is limited to a certain number of page clicks per day. In order to make any money whatsoever from this scheme, you are pretty much forced to scam the spammers by hiding your real IP address with Internet proxy services such as "findnot", so you can make more page clicks.

I won't even go into the discussion about what this program will do to your computer's performance... it is a true tragedy if you get conned into this scam.

Jobs Abroad


Tips to job applicants using the internet in job search

• Read the entirety of the website. Examine whether the company name and profile appear believable. Check for its company profile or the “about us” page to see its office location and phone numbers.

• Examine the website design plus all links and pages available. A legitimate company would not mind spending large money to have a website designed beautifully as the same serves as the business’s window to the world.

• Take note of the website’s invitations to send resumes and application papers through postal mail or drop boxes. Most legitimate websites would like you to fill up your resume online or send them through e-mail.

• Take note of their offers. Most of them offer “too-good-to-be-true” salaries and other job perks including free accommodation and bonuses.

• Use search engines (yahoo!, google, etc.) and look for the  company's name or topics similar to those discussed in the website you have visited.

• Check the domain name of the website to secure additional information.

• Report to the POEA or other law enforcement authorities any illegal recruitment activities conducted through the internet.

Jobs Abroad

Escort Services – Undocumented  workers are escorted at the airport or any international  exit to evade checkpoints set to check on the documents of workers.

Tourist–Worker Scheme – Workers leave the country purportedly as tourist but in reality is being deployed as worker abroad.

Assumed Identity – Workers particularly minors are deployed abroad under an assumed identity. 

Direct Hiring – Workers are hired by foreign employers without the intervention of licensed recruitment agencies and are deployed undocumented and without protection.

Trainee Worker Scheme – Hired workers are deployed allegedly not for employment but for training purposes only and will return to sending company after training. 

Backdoor Points Scheme – Workers are sent abroad not through regular exit channels like airports but are deployed usually through cargo ships. 

Tie-Up System – Unlicensed recruiters with foreign principals who are usually in the blacklist use the name and offices of licensed recruiters in their illegal activity. 

Visa Assistance/Consultancy Scheme – Firms that offer services including the pairing of workers with foreign employers and promising applicants immigrant visas but are in reality engaged in the recruitment business. 

Blind Ads Scheme – Workers are enticed to apply and send cash payments addressed to a Postal Office Box without the worker having the opportunity to communicate personally with the recruiter.

Jobs Abroad

Ang illegal recruiter ay:

• agad naniningil ng placement fee o anumang kaukulang bayad nang walang resibo
• nangangako ng madaliang pag-alis patungo sa ibang bansa
• nagre-require agad ng medical examination o training kahit wala pang malinaw na employer o kontrata
• nakikipag-transaksiyon sa mga aplikante sa mga pampublikong lugar tulad ng restaurant, mall, atbpa. at hindi sa opisina ng lisensyadong ahensiya
• bahay-bahay kung mag-recruit ng mga aplikante
• hndi nagbibigay ng sapat na impormasyon tungkol sa ina-aplayang trabaho
• nagsasabi na may kausap na direct employer at ang mga aplikante ay di na kailangang dumaan sa POEA
• nangangako ng mabilis na pag-alis ng aplikante gamit ang tourist o visit visa
• walang maipakitang employment contract o working visa
• nagpapakilala na empleyado ng isang lisensyadong recruitment agency ngunit walang maipakitang ID
• nagpapakilala na konektado sa isang travel agency o training center
• nanghihikayat sa mga aplikante na mangalap ng iba pang aplikante upang mapabilis ang pagpapaalis
• walang maibigay na sapat at tamang impormasyon tungkol sa sarili tulad ng buong pangalan o address
• nangangako na ang mga dokumento ay ipapasok sa POEA para mai-process (lalo na sa kaso ng EPS-Korea)

Jobs Abroad

 

 

Any act of canvassing, enlisting, contracting, transporting, utilizing, hiring or procuring workers and includes referring, contract services, promising or advertising for employment abroad, whether for profit or not, when undertaken by a non-license or non-holder of authority contemplated under Art 13 (F) of Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines: Provided, That any such non-licensee or non-holder who, in any manner, offers or promises for a fee employment abroad to two or more persons shall be deemed so engaged. (sec. 6, RA 8042).

It shall likewise include the following acts, whether committed by any persons, whether a non-licensee, non-holder, licensee or holder of authority.

• To charge or accept directly or indirectly any amount greater than the specified in the schedule of allowable fees prescribed by the Secretary of Labor and Employment, or to make a worker pay any amount greater than that actually received by him as a loan or advance;

• To furnish or publish any false notice or information or document in relation to recruitment or employment;

• To give any false notice, testimony, information or document or commit any act of misrepresentation for the purpose of securing a license or authority under the Labor Code;

• To induce or attempt to induce a worker already employed to quit his employment in order to offer him another unless the transfer is designed to liberate a worker from oppressive terms and conditions of employment;

• To influence or attempt to influence any persons or entity not to employ any worker who has not applied for employment through his agency;

• To engage in the recruitment of placement of workers in jobs harmful to public health or morality or to dignity of the Republic of the Philippines;

• To obstruct or attempt to obstruct inspection by the Secretary of Labor and Employment or by his duly authorized representative;

• To fail to submit reports on the status of employment, placement vacancies, remittances of foreign exchange earnings, separations from jobs, departures and such other matters or information as may be required by the Secretary of Labor and Employment;

• To substitute or alter to the prejudice of the worker, employment contracts approved and verified by the Department of Labor and Employment from the time of actual signing thereof by the parties up to and including the period of the expiration of the same without the approval of the Department of Labor and Employment;

• For an officer or agent of a recruitment or placement agency to become an officer or member of the Board of any corporation engaged in travel agency or to be engaged directly on indirectly in the management of a travel agency;

• To withhold or deny travel documents from applicant workers before departure for monetary or financial considerations other than those authorized under the Labor Code and its implementing rules and regulations;

• Failure to actually deploy without valid reasons as determined by the Department of Labor and Employment; and

• Failure to reimburse expenses incurred by the workers in connection with his documentation and processing for purposes of deployment, in cases where the deployment does not actually take place without the worker's fault. Illegal recruitment when committed by a syndicate or in large scale shall be considered as offense involving economic sabotage.

Illegal recruitment is deemed committed by a syndicate carried out by a group of three (3) or more persons conspiring or confederating with one another. It is deemed committed in large scale if committed against three (3) or more persons individually or as a group.

The persons criminally liable for the above offenses are the principals, accomplices and accessories. In case of juridical persons, the officers having control, management or direction of their business shall be liable.

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WHO ARE CONSIDERED BALIK-MANGGAGAWA?

• Worker-on-Leave - a worker who is on vacation or on leave from employment under a valid and existing employment contract and who is returning to the same employer, regardless of any change in jobsite, to finish the remaining unexpired portion of the contract.

• Rehire - a worker who was rehired by the same employer after finishing his/hercontract and who is returning to the same employer, regardless of a change in jobsite.

• POLO registered worker - a returning worker whose employment contract was not processed with the POEA but was subsequently verified and registered with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in the jobsite and who is returning to the same employer either as a worker-on-leave or rehire, regardless of any change in jobsite. Same employer / principal refers to the employer named in the employment contract previously processed with the POEA, or registered with the POLO at the jobsite.

WHAT ARE THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR BM PROCESSING?

• Proof of existing employment (such as valid employment contract, employment certificate, valid company ID, pay slips)

• Passport valid for at least 6 months from the time of departure

• Valid visa / re-entry permit / work permit or equivalent document

WHAT ARE THE FEES?

• POEA processing fee - PHp 100.00
• OWWA membership fee - US$25 or its peso equivalent (per contract basis)
• PhilHealth - PHp 900.00 (good for 1 year coverage)
• Pag-Ibig membership - PHp 100 (minimum)

WHAT IS THE VALIDITY PERIOD OF BM e-RECEIPT / OEC?

SIXTY (60) days from date of issuance; ONE (1) day for OECs issued by the Labor
Assistance Centers (LACs) at the airports.

WHAT HAPPENS IF BM e-RECEIPT / OEC IS LOST?

A lost BM e-receipt / OEC shall not be replaced by another e-receipt / OEC. A worker who lost his/her BM e-receipt/OEC shall be issued a certification indicating the particulars of the e-receipt/OEC previously issued to him/her, based on available POEA/POLO records, upon submission of an Affidavit of Loss. This certification shall serve as travel exit clearance for the worker’s departure to return to his/her jobsite, in lieu of the lost e-receipt/OEC but may not be honored for travel tax and airport terminal fee exemption unless otherwise allowed by the concerned offices / entities.

WHAT IF BM E-RECEIPT / OEC EXPIRES BEFORE USAGE?

An expired BM e-receipt/OEC shall be replaced only upon submission of all the copies of the expired exit clearance and payment of the required BM processing fee of PHp100.00. In case the PhilHealth and OWWA membership of the worker has already expired at the time of replacement, payment for the renewal of PhilHealth and OWWA membership shall also be required.

Request for replacement of expired e-receipts/OEC shall be allowed only within a period of one (1) month from date of expiration. Otherwise, the application shall be treated as a new request for processing and must be supported by compliance with all the requirements for processing and issuance of BM e-receipt/OEC.

WHAT IS A MULTIPLE TRAVEL EXIT CLEARANCE (MTEC)?

MTEC is a single issuance of travel exit clearance good for at least 3 exits within the validity period of the existing contract of the worker whose contract with the same employer has a duration of not less than twelve (12) months from the date of application for travel exit clearance. MTEC shall strictly be used for travel to the worker’s jobsite.

WHO CAN APPLY FOR MTEC?

• Workers whose nature of work and employment contract allow the worker multiple exit from the jobsite and re-entry to the Philippines for at least three (3) times within a period of one (1) year during the duration of his/her employment contract;
• Filipino cabin crew and flight attendants of commercial aircrafts who are joining their operational flights outside of the country, and who are not in possession of permanent resident visa issued by their foreign host countries; and
• Other categories of returning workers whose contract of employment provides frequent scheduled vacations or rotational leave

HOW MUCH IS THE COST OF MTEC?

POEA processing fee of PHp100.00

WHAT ABOUT VACATIONING WORKERS WHO LEFT AS TOURISTS AND WHOSE
CONTRACTS WERE NOT SUBSEQUENTLY VERIFIED AND REGISTERED WITH THE POLO AT THE JOBSITE?

Undocumented / irregular workers will be documented as Balik-Manggagawa, provided that that they are returning to the same employer, and subject to their compliance with the documentary requirements and payment of prescribed fees for balik-manggagawa processing. Otherwise, they will be documented as (BM) Name Hire.

WHAT ABOUT VACATIONING WORKERS WHO CHANGED EMPLOYERS?

If their contracts with their new employers were not subsequently verified and registered with the POLO on-site, vacationing workers who changed employers will not be documented as balik-manggagawa. They will be documented as (BM) Name Hire at the Name Hire Unit.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR (BM) NAME HIRE PROCESSING?

• Proof of existing employment (such as valid employment contract, employment certificate, valid company ID, pay slips)
• For Household Service Workers (HSWs), employment contract compliant with the minimum salary requirement of US$400 for HSWs shall be required
• Valid visa / re-entry permit / work permit or equivalent document
• Passport valid for at least six (6) months from the time of departure
• PDOS (not required / optional)
• Medical certificate of fitness to work FOR THOSE WHOSE HOME LEAVE EXCEEDS FIVE (5) MONTHS AT THE TIME OF (BM) NAME HIRE PROCESSING

WHAT ARE THE FEES FOR (BM) NAME HIRE PROCESSING?

• POEA processing fee - US$100 or its peso equivalent
• OWWA membership fee - US$25 or its peso equivalent
• PhilHealth - PHp 900.00 (good for 1 year coverage)
• Pag-Ibig membership - PHp 100 (minimum)

ARE PERMANENT RESIDENT VISA HOLDERS REQUIRED TO SECURE OEC?

No, they are not. Only those leaving on work/employment visa are required to secure POEA travel exit clearance. Permanent residents / immigrants leaving on immigrant or permanent visa shall not be processed by the POEA but should register with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO).

WHERE CAN BM OEC’s BE SECURED?

• Balik-Manggagawa Processing Division (BMPD) – POEA main office
• POEA Regional Centers – Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao
• POEA Regional Extension Units / Satellite Offices
• Labor Assistance Centers (LAC) – at international airports in Manila, Cebu and Mindanao. (OEC issuance at LACs is limited to those classified as regular balikmanggagawa - vacationing workers, rehires, POLO-registered workers - with confirmed airline bookings on the date of request of BM OEC issuance, and house home leave does not exceed FIVE (5) days. (BM) Name Hires cannot be issued BM OEC at the LACs.)
• Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO)

WHAT ARE THE PROCESSES INVOLVED IN BM PROCESSING?

There are three (3) options in BM processing:

• Option 1. One Day Processing
• Option 2. Two Days Processing, wherein BM procedures are cut into two (2) phases, with short waiting time for both phase 1 and phase 2, instead of one day processing where the queues and waiting time are long. Under this option, the worker shall come back for his travel exit clearance the following day, at the same time of application filing. For example, if the worker files his/her application on Monday, between 8:00-10:00 a.m. his/her appointed day and time to claim his/her document is on the following day, Tuesday, also between 8-10 a.m.; if worker comes between 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., his/her appointed time for the following day to claim his document will also be between 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.; if worker comes between 2:00 – 5:00 p.m., his/her appointed time for the following day to claim his/her document will also be between 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Option
• Door-to-Door Delivery Service, wherein workers just file their applications and have their travel exit clearance delivered to their homes thru Teleserve, a private courier(door-to-door) service provider which has an office within the premises of the Balik-Manggagawa Processing Division. Teleserve delivery fee is a flat rate of PHp220 within Metro Manila and the provinces. Delivery is 3 days within Metro Manila; 5 days for provincial deliveries.

WHAT ARE THE PROCESSES INVOLVED IN OPTIONS 2 AND 3: In both options, BM procedures have 2 phases: Phase 1 Phase 2

FOR PERSONAL PICK UP

• Worker fills up Info Sheet 1. Worker presents his/her Claim Stub / (Pre-numbered forms are avai- Return Slip at the designated RELEASING lable at the BMAD Entrance. Window on the day and time indicated
• Worker submits accomplished in the Claim Stub / Return Slip. Info Sheet, with documentary 2. Worker’s documents are released. (He / requirements at designated she signs the Claim Stub / Return Slip Windows. which is collected at RELEASING upon RECEIVING checks documents release of documents) for completeness and compliance 3. Worker proceeds to designated with requirements. Assessment Windows for assessment.
• On-line database verification of fees. to check data on worker and 3. Payment of fees at designated Cashier and employer. Windows.
• Release of the BM travel exit clearance. If the worker is not a regular Balikmanggagawa as herein defined, he/she will be referred to the Name FOR DOOR-TO-DOOR SERVICE DELIVERY Unit for (BM) Name Hire processing Worker’s travel exit clearance shall be If documents are deficient or not in delivered to the worker’s designated order, worker will be referred to the home address via courier service. Supervisor, or concerned office for compliance of deficient document/s.
• Issuance of Claim Stub/Return Slip, if worker is a regular BM. If worker opts home delivery, he will be referred to Teleserve for courier service.

Further inquiries may be addressed at pso_poea@yahoo.com

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The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has began implementing the guidelines issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs on obtaining legal documents for employment in Russia.

POEA Administrator Carlos Cao Jr. has said that the DFA advises Filipinos who wish to work in Russia to obtain work visas instead of commercial visas. Commercial visas are valid only for three months and are not renewable. Holders of lapsed commercial visas would have to leave Russia and apply for work visas.

A Filipino entering Russia for work would need an invitation from the prospective employer or another company which was able to obtain visa quota. The invitation should be approved by the Russian Federal Migration Services (FMS).

A Russian working visa issued for the first time is valid for three months. It may be renewed for unlimited number of times with a validity of one year per renewal.

The working visa may be issued within 20 working days from the time of application.

The employers are responsible for the legality of the stay of their employees in Russia.

Thus, they should ensure that their employees possess the proper and valid working visas and working permits. In cases where their Filipino employees are holding either commercial visas or expired working visas, the employers are responsible for the legalization of their stay in Russia.

The DFA also advises Filipino workers against using the services of fake travel agents and
other unauthorized recruiters in obtaining their Russian work permits.

The cost for both the invitation and the visa is only $300 but most travel agencies or middlemen charge from $1,000 to $3,000.

For visa renewal, the OFWs do not have to go to agencies or middlemen.

They themselves or the employers may go directly to the FMS branch where the Filipino is registered and apply for renewal. The requirements are an employment contract and a statement asking for visa renewal signed by the employee.

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Choosing the the right OFW Roaming Sim Pack,

• Globe - OFW Sim

• Smart Roaming Sim

• Sun Cellular Roaming Sim

• others

There are lots of OFW Sim Pack that can be bought anywhere in the Philippines at a very cheap price before leaving.

What is on your mind is considering your destination, right? You don't need to consider that thing, what you should do is to consider the people who will always text you, for example if you are going in Saudi Arabia and you choose to bring Globe OFW Roaming Sim and your love-ones in the Philippines is using Globe also, it will be an advantage to your love-ones because they can use their unlimited text to you, same thing in using a Smart Roaming Sim when most of your relatives are also Smart Sim Pack.

After considering the Sim Pack of your relatives or wife or husband who will be staying in Philippines, the next important thing to do is to know what is the Partner Sim Pack (Local Sim) for this relatives in the country where you are going to work.

For example, assuming that you are going to Saudi Arabia and your husband/wife in the Philippines is using Globe, what you need to buy when you arrive in Saudi is "Mobily" Sim Pack, Mobily and Globe are Partner Telecom provider. If your husband/wife in the Philippines is using Smart Sim Pack what you need to buy when you arrive in Saudi Arabia is "SAWA" Sim Pack. This will help you save some money when you are sending text messages to the Philippines. In Mobily to Globe the text messaging charge is 0.30 Saudi Riyal and if Mobily to Smart the charge will be 0.50 Saudi Riyal.

Aside from Roaming Sim, the BETTER thing to do is to bring a Laptop, there will be internet in your destination for sure.

The BEST thing to do which I think only 10% of OFW do, is to bring a 3G with Wi-Fi Mobile Phone with you (Wifi is not necessary but it will be better than buying internet bundles which is also cheap), make sure that MobileVoIP Application (or Fring) is installed in your Smartphone.

After having the MobileVoIP, make an account at jumblo.com, do not forget your username and password, you can buy credits for your Jumblo Account online or in internet cafes. when you are go to internet shops,asked first if they reload Jumblo, you give your Jumblo username and password so they can buy credits online using their credit card. After that, you can now make telephone calls to any person you know around the world in very cheap prices. Some countries are also free, you can check jumblo.com for the charges and free phone call destinations.

Before, when I was not still aware of this MobileVoIP, I used to call from my "Mobily" Sim Pact to the Philippines which is very costly. I spend 250 to 300 Saudi Riyal in my monthly call expenses, 10 Saudi Riyal credit load can only last for about 15 minutes of call which is very short.

After knowing this MobileVoIP, which saves me big amount of money, 1 Saudi Riyal using MobileVoIP can last up to 20 to 30 minutes call to the Philippines which is very cheap compared to the regular call.

You might think, I already have a laptop and I can chat or call through Yahoo Messenger, Skype or other similar applications. You are thinking of this right? Believe it or not most OFW's with internet connections in their laptop still prefer to call via telephone after they chat. We Filipinos are very affectionate, we are not just contented in using chat or video chat, we still prefer to say "I LOVE YO" in a sweet manner via telephone call.

The advantage of this MobileVoIP is that even when you are walking or traveling, you can manage to call your relatives in their Local Sim Number, unlike when you are using your laptop which you cannot used while walking or driving (not recommended).

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Ang binayaran ng employer mo ay Recruitment Service Fee (RSF). May mga agencies na hindi pa nakukuntento doon. Naniningil pa sila ng placement fee na equivalent to one month salary (basic & all allowances) at kung minsan may processing fee pa, usually around P5-10K. Gahaman man sila sa tingin natin, wala tayong magagawa dahil naaayon sa batas ang ginagawa nila.

Sino ba ang kumuha sa agency? Kung yung employer mo, kausapin mo na lang yung employer mo na sulatan yung agency at sabihin na "We were of the impression that the Recruitment Service of US$400 that we paid is inclusive of everything i.e. that the applicant will not be charged anything. Please confirm". Para malinawan at medyo magkahiyaan kung meron mang natitirang hiya yung agency.

Yung mga malalaking agencies kasi like EDI-Staffbuilders at Intl. Skill Development (dalawa lang sila sa alam ko, malamang na marami pang iba), kuntento na sa RSF. May mga ganid talagang agencies.
Sad to say, kapag sumagot yung agency at sinabing placement fee yun, wala tayong magagawa, babayaran mo talaga yun unless sasagutin ng employer. Kung kailangan ka naman kasi talaga ng employer, napakaliit na halaga noon. Kung skilled category kasi, usually mga US$800-1,000 ang RSF so lumalabas, ganoon din. Pagkakaiba lang, imbes na yung employer ang pinasasagot ng agency, ikaw.

 

Ang pinakamaganda talaga niyan ay magsadya ka na sa Legal Dept. ng POEA.

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Real Story

Hi to all,

Kagagaling ko lang ng DFA and i can't wait to post this incident na na-encounter ko doon......may this experience of mine give you all the awareness na marami ang manloloko sa labas ng DFA...

It was almost 3pm, i was rushing sa DFA para maihabol ko yung pa-red ribbon ng sister ko na COE ( Certificate of Employment)

On my way, me biglang sumalubong na lalaki na parang bading na malaki ang katawan na ang sabi ay sarado na daw ang pila sa DFA kasi naabot na daw yung quota na 100 person para sa magpapa-authenticate, releasing na lang daw ang mga nandun at yung mga gusto daw magpahabol ng authenticate, pumila daw sa room 2 sa building na malapit dun sa Pasay Sports Center......dun daw siya tinuro ng mga guard ng DFA....so parang nabigla ako at ang sabi ko, " Ay ganun ba?? Saan pipila?? Agad naman siyang sumagot na dito daw, sabay lakad papunta sa sinasabi niya at nagtatanong pa sa mga nakakasalubong namin kung saan pinapapila yung mga magpapa-authenticate......( ang galing ng style, ano po??? )

Along the way, sabi niya nagmamadali daw siya kaya need niya magpa-authenticate kasi paalis na siya in a week ...tapos tinanong ako kung para saan yung ipa-authenticate ko....i also ask him kung magkano na pa-authenticate at ang sabi 600 pesos na daw at kung express 800 pesos....so nagulat ako.....sabi ko, kelan lang nagpa-authenticate ang sister ko, 100 pesos lang .....ang sabi niya, nung lunes lang daw nagbago ng patakaran at nagtaas ng fee ang DFA..... until narating namin yung building ng SUMMERLIN Bldg at umakyat kami sa 2nd floor room 2B....

Pinauna ko siya pumasok...at animo'y tutoo ang transaction niya....sabi niya sa mga staff dun, "Mam, magkano po ang authenticate??? Ilang days po???? Hindi ko narinig sagot nung staff kasi lumabas muna ako, tumawag muna ako sa ate ko sandali...mga 2 minutes yung usapan namin ng ate ko....then pumasok na ako sa loob at ako nagtanong....samantalang yung mama na nagturo sa akin doon, nagmayabang pa na binigay na niya yung mga dapat niyang ipa-authenticate at nagbayad daw siya ng 600 pesos at ipinakita pa yung resibo na binigay sa kanya.....at sabi pa, cge ipa-authenticate ko na daw para maihabol at makuha kinabukasan, a matter of 200 pesos lang naman daw......at that part, sabi ko, naku wala ako pera......sabi ko subukan ko na lang muna pumunta sa DFA bldg baka pwede pa pumila .... magbakasakali lang ako, sabi ko....sabi naman niya, hay naku, magpapakapagod ka pa, konti lang naman daw ang diperensiya......so yun, di nila ako napigilan at tumuloy na ako sa DFA.

Pagdating ko sa me gate, asked ko agad si Lady guard kung me pila pa ng pa-authenticate at kung magkano?? Sobrang natuwa at natauhan ako sa sagot niya....sabi niya, "opo, me pila pa po at 100 pesos lang pa-authenticate, 200 pesos pag expedite "......samantalang sa isang mamang guard, me isang aleng sexy at maganda na nagrereklamo kasi nadale yata siya nung mga manloloko.....at ang payo ni manong guard, balikan mo at kunin mo yung mga papel at wag daw magpapasindak......dko na alam kung binalikan nung ale yung papel niya kasi dumiretso na ako sa loob ng DFA na ang gaan ng feeling kasi di ako nahulog sa patibong ng mga manloloko .....THANK YOU, LORD!!!!
 

Kaya mag-ingat po lagi at maging aware po tayo.....wag po magpapadala sa matatamis at magagandang salita ng mga manloloko....diretso lang po sa DFA kahit me humarang pa sa inyo.....pakisabi na rin ito sa mga kakilala at kaibigan niya na me plano magpa- authenticate sa DFA..... 

-concerned citizen

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budget of S$1,500 is good enough to get you around looking for a job.. P33.50 = S$1 forex,
daily allowance to get around cities ~ S$50, parang P300 dito sa tin un..
mcdo meal ala bigmac ~ US$10,
cheapest meal (1 rice + chicken) S$2,
orig. sony psp3000 ~ S$250,
mrt ~ S$1.5 shortest, S$5 farthest.. up to airport.. one way...
(yes, mrt lang hanggang airport, di pa ako nainitan nun)
taxi ~ S$10 far enough to other side of singapore..
bus ~ a few times lang, but not recommended kasi me route na sinusunod,
minsan kung saan pa iikot, eh kabilang kalye lang pala, bilis pa lakad,
so kami, lakad kung malapit, taxi kung mejo malayo, mrt kung ibang city or province na...
anywhere there parang walking around ortigas center, and around greenbelt,
pinoys are usually identified with indonesians... (mas decente naman tau manamit sa kanila..)

mas tipid kung makitira ka muna sa isang kamag-anak, kapamiilya o friend.
i did, and shared S$30 every week for water, food, and electricity.. slept on the sofa..
mas mura sa ibang province, (sembawang, ang mo kio) and mahal sa main city...

sa novena city, dun nagsisimba karamihan ng pinoy, news is wishes come true doon if you pray hard enough,
sa geylang, china town at orchard naman ay red district pag gabi...
orchard mall is where most pinoys do remittance, get salon, at most of what pinoys do here rin...
marami na rin pinoy restaurant doon at pinoy grocery where you can find ligo sardines, cheese spread, bagoong, adobong pinoy, pakbet, bibingka, etc...

at best doon, sentosa island's universal studios at marami pang theme parks & beach doon...

nga pala,
hindi uso house blessing sa kanila, kaya ji-no-joke nila ako kung me nararamdaman daw me kakaiba pag gabi... wala naman so far..

ingat din kayo sa mga tinderong bumbay, bangladesh o indonesian kasi ung iba marunong maka intindi ng tagalog, at nang gugulang pa pag bumibili ka...