Because of not being able to find work with decent pay here in the Philippines, Dang decided to look for work abroad. Browsing the pages of a newspaper classified ads section she saw some openings for Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong. One of the ads was from an agency with an office in Ermita. The ad says that no fees will be collected and that it will be salary deducted. Estimated salary per month was 20,000 PHP to 25,000 PHP, depending on the employer in Hong Kong.
Dang thought that the offer was good so she called the office in Ermita to verify the information placed on the ad and to inquire about additional information. She also checked POEA’s website to see if the agency was listed and it was listed with good standing. Confident that the agency was not an illegal recruiter, Dang went to the agency’s Ermita office for the interview and video taking.
After the interview and video taking she was immediately given a job order and was told that the placement fee was 85,000 PHP not including other expenses for medical exams, OWWA Fees, etc. She was also told that if she decides to pursue the application then she will need to put up a downpayment of 20,000 PHP.
Back home, she told me all about what happened in her interview. I was surprised to learn that the agency was asking her for a downpayment on the placement fee when they clearly said in their ad that it will be salary deducted. The sudden changed from salary deductions to offhand payment of placement fee is very suspicious. I don’t care if this agency is listed and has a good standing with POEA (officials can be bribed or paid off). Their operation smells like a scam. If your ad say “salary deduction” then it must be “salary deduction”.
I told Dang to not pursue her application with this particular agency. They may or may not be scamming people but using bait-and-switch tactics to lure applicants is already a scam in my book.
For those looking for a job abroad and are turning toward agencies for job placements, be very careful. If there is even a slightest hint of a scam then just back-out and find another agency to apply with.
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you are absolutly rite…most of these are scams ,not only in phillipines all areoud the world
i would suggest that anyone who demands for a starting are earning money from people for their own,tell them to take double when i get paid instead …
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