Jobseekers warned vs fake offers in Sarawak

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos should beware of dubious job offers in Miri and Bintulu in Malaysia’s Sarawak state, the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur said Friday.

The embassy issued the warning after receiving reports about Filipinos who were recruited for alleged well-paying jobs but ended up working in bars and restaurants as underpaid guest relations officers or waiters with no employment benefits and whose passports are withheld by their employers. 

Some of them end up in debt bondage, as they are asked to pay huge sums of money before they can get their passports back and be allowed to return home, the embassy said.

“The embassy also wishes to inform our kababayans that foreigners who travel to Sarawak and other parts of Malaysia as tourists cannot work legally. Those who wish to work in Malaysia will have to first secure their employment visas in their countries of origin before coming over. Otherwise, they may end up being victimized by human traffickers,” the embassy said.