Press Release No. 202-03
29 April 2003

JOBSEEKERS WARNED: NO JOBS IN EAST TIMOR AND ACEH, INDONESIA

Bali, Indonesia – Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople called on Filipinos looking for jobs abroad to immediately report to the police and National Bureau of Investigation any person offering jobs in East Timor and Aceh, Indonesia.

Ople said there are no available jobs in East Timor for Filipino migrant workers and that Aceh in Indonesia is still in the process of building permanent peace.

“As far back as two months ago, our Embassy in Indonesia issued an advisory to caution Filipinos against falling victims to recruiters promising jobs in East Timor. Some were misled into thinking that Dili, the capital of the new independent Republic of East Timor is located in Australia or New Zealand,” Ople added.

Secretary Ople said that the Philippine Embassy led by Ambassador Rafael Seguis had to request for funds to repatriate some 13 Filipinos tricked by an illegal recruitment agency into going to East Timor.

He stressed that Filipinos seeking jobs abroad should check with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration on the legal status of their recruiter and the availability of jobs in their desired country of destination.

Ople also cautioned workers paying travel agencies a huge amount for jobs abroad. “We know of some cases were the victims of human traffickers went to unscrupulous travel agencies who promised them non-existent jobs in exchange for astronomical placement and travel fees,” he added.

The Secretary said the Department of Foreign Affairs is also dealing with the problem of fake and tampered passports.

He urged Filipinos not to fall victims to passport and visa fixers. “They can end up behind bars or worse become victims of white slavery rings abroad,” Secretary Ople warned.