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BI: Human traffickers targeting OFWs with expiring work contracts

Philippines | National

BI: Human traffickers targeting OFWs with expiring work contracts

By Jun Ramirez

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) with expiring contracts are also targeted by human traffickers in their recruitment racket, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has disclosed.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco made the revelation following the repatriation of a male and female OFW from Bangkok, Thailand.

The victims claimed they accepted a social media job offer with a monthly pay of P48,000 to work as customer service representative in Bangkok shortly before the termination of their contract in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The duo, together with another OFW, flew from UAE to Bangkok and were later escorted by uniformed men to the adjacent country Myanmar to work in the cryptocurrency scam.

“Human traffickers are preying on OFWs with expiring visas, particularly in the Middle East, enticing them to work as call center agents in Asian countries and forced to work in financial crime operations," Tansingco stated.

Tansingco appealed to aspiring OFWs to apply through the Department of Migrant Workers.

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