POEA warns against use of fake

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration is reiterating its warning on the use of forged documents to support applications for overseas jobs of Filipino workers.
During the annual POLO conference in December 2017, several Philippine Overseas Labor Officers expressed grave concern over reports and complaints by foreign employers regarding fake or altered certificates of employment of OFWs recruited and deployed for the Middle East and other countries.

The scheme involves the submission of fake or altered employment certificates of job applicants, in some cases perpetrated by some licensed recruitment agencies with the consent of the worker, to reflect compliance with work experience and training requirements of employers. Primary source verification, however, reveals that some applicants had not undergone or completed training programs, or had not been employed by companies or institutions issuing such certification.

The malpractice endangers the welfare of overseas Filipino workers and exposes them to possible deportation, detention, and blacklisting which could deny them future employment in other countries.

The POEA reminds all concerned licensed recruitment agencies of their duly notarized undertaking executed by their officers to select and deploy only medically fit and competent workers, and to adhere to ethical standards in the recruitment and deployment of workers.

Recruitment agencies should exercise due diligence in verifying the authenticity of documents submitted by job applicants. Both workers and recruitment agencies should be aware of possible administrative and criminal liabilities arising from violation of relevant laws and rules and regulation on overseas employment.