DSWD 6 raises alert vs illegal hiring for Malaysia
The Department of Social Welfare and Development 6 (DSWD 6) is warning the public against seeking jobs in Malaysia that will make them victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment.
The warning came after DSWD 6 received reports on the illegal recruitment of workers from Bingawan, Calinog and Janiuay towns in Iloilo and from Tapaz in Capiz.
Social Welfare Officer 4 Delia Bagolcol said recruiters from a town in Iloilo who have connection in Sabah have already recruited more than 50 Ilonggos to work in a palm plantation there since last year.
The workers are brought to Malaysia through Zamboanga City.
In July last year, Bagolcol said some of the workers were rescued by the Philippine Embassy after they were found to be victims of human trafficking or forced labor. The victims were sent back home to Iloilo.
Bagolcol said that upon interrogation of the newly arrived victims, the DSWD 6 personnel have learned that the salary and benefits offered to the victims during recruitment is not the same as what they were paid while working in Sabah.
The victims were tasked to pick palm leaves and their salaries were based on the volume they have collected.
Bagolcol said the tools used by the victims for their work were also charged to their salaries, adding that the victims also have to buy their own food and water.
She said there are still Ilonggos left in Sabah because they were not around during the rescue operation.*
