4 December 2003 - Following a report from the Philippine Embassy in Koror, the Department of Foreign Affairs issued an advisory on cases of Filipino workers traveling to Palau posing as tourists.

The Embassy has noted a continuing influx to the island-state of Filipino workers who, having been victims of illegal recruitment in the Philippines, are often subjected to further exploitation and abuse.  This, notwithstanding the ban imposed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) on the deployment of OFWs, whether though direct hiring or through job placement agencies.

With this report, Secretary Ople enlisted the assistance of the Department of Labor and Employment, particularly the POEA, Bureau of Immigration and other concerned agencies in curbing this illegal practice.  “Warnings like these are issued as part of the Department’s policy to protect the interest of Filipinos abroad,” Secretary Ople said.

Based on the written statements of victims, Filipino “tourists” to Palau are required to pay an average of US$1,500 in placement fees which, at the maximum salary rate of US$200.00 per month and with many incidental expenses assigned to them, would take at least ten months to recoup.  The income to be earned during the remaining two months of the usual one-year contract is to be set aside for the purchase of a return ticket.  Thus, the poor employee often comes home penniless and mired in debt.

In instances of abuse wherein the employee opts to be repatriated before the contract ends, the Philippine government often shoulders the return airfare.

The Embassy is convinced that Palau’s existing no-visa policy for foreign visitors serves a good come-on for mostly unskilled Filipino workers to try their luck in Palau, especially with the added false hope of going to the United States one day. - END