Filipino illegal recruiters based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam reportedly recruit workers from the Philippines for jobs, an embassy  report said Tuesday (Nov. 11).

The Philippine Embassy in Hanoi said it received reports that certain Filipinos based in the city were actively enticing job seekers to work in Ho chi Minh. However, upon arrival in the country there are no valid job contracts, work visa or permits

The recruiter allegedly earn  from the overpriced plane tickets, which normally cost only $150-$400. However, victims were asked to pay as much as P25,00-P30,000 or around $600-800.

Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Laura Del Rosario said that concerned members of the Filipino community in Ho Chi Minh brought the matter to the attention of the embassy and noted that Vietnam's labor market may also be affected by the global recession.

The embassy urged all Filipinos who want to work in Vietnam to go  through the proper channels of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration (OWWA) for proper documentation.

As in all other countries, proper documentation (i.e., valid contract work visa, and work permit) are requirements for foreign workers in Vietnam.

Majority of Filipinos working in Vietnam occupy executive and managerial positions in professional fields such as construction and engineering, accountancy, banking and investment, education, garment/textile industry, hotel and restaurant management, food and  beverage industry, marketing, furniture industry, medicine, and foreign investment projects. 

 Philstar.com