SENATOR Miriam Defensor Santiago has filed a resolution seeking to investigate the alleged bogus jobs that are being offered to Filipinos in Malaysia.
Citing a news report, Santiago said Filipinos have been warned against dubious job offerings in Malaysia that promise high salaries, following complaints that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Sarawak State were duped in such a scam.
The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur allegedly issued the advisory after receiving reports that OFWs had been recruited for well-paying jobs in Miri and Bintulu in Sarawak but ended up as guest relations officers or waiters.
The embassy added that foreigners who travel to Sarawak and other parts of Malaysia as tourists cannot work legally.
Santiago also noted that Filipino migrant workers, whose passports have been withheld by employers, were not paid their proper salaries and given no employment benefits.
Before making travel plans, she said workers should have to verify first the job offers with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration in Manila or the Embassy’s Philippine Overseas Labor Office.
Santiago then urged her colleagues to look into the matter.
“Congress, through relevant legislation, must create measures and increase public awareness to address proliferation of fake job offers abroad,” the senator said. (Sunnex)