Illegal OFWs face arrest in China

MANILA, Philippines — A number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are facing possible arrest in China for entering the country illegally, the Blas Ople Center reported yesterday.

Center head Susan Ople said they have been receiving requests for assistance from the OFWs who were illegally deployed to China. 

“We find this situation very alarming because once they get there, they are left stranded by their recruiters. Some of them were even arrested for violating immigration laws while others were forced to work for Chinese employers without valid contracts,” she said in a statement.

Ople said they are working closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking  for the repatriation of the distressed OFWs from China.

Ople said illegal recruiters offer jobs as domestic workers in China with a monthly salary of P50,000.

“The arrangement was that all expenses would be deducted from their salaries within the six months period. When they arrived in China, it turned out that their recruiters still have to look for employers that would take them in,” she said.

Ople advised overseas job applicants to check with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) before accepting any offers to work abroad.

She said the POEA has said that there are no work visas and legitimate job orders for Filipino domestic workers for China at this time.