1. PRE-EMPLOYMENT ORIENTATION SEMINAR (PEOS ONLINE)
MODULE 3: FOREWARNED, FOREARMED

2. Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) Online - powered by JobStreet.com
Module 3: FOREWARNED, FOREARMED – How do I apply for Overseas jobs the legal way and avoid illegal
recruiters?
FOREWARNED, FOREARMED: Stay away from Illegal Recruiters!
There will always be people who will try to lure you into what
would appear to be an easier way to get a job abroad.
Be very careful! Stay away from them!
A person, company or entity without a license or authority from
the POEA who
C - Canvass
E - Enlist,
T- Transport
C- Contract,
H- Hire
U – Utilize
P - Procure workers for employment abroad whether for profit or
otherwise is an illegal recruiter.
It also includes the following:
C - contract services
R - referring
P - promising
A- Advertising for employment abroad.
KEYWORD: (CETCHUP CRPA)

3. Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) Online - powered by JobStreet.com
Module 3: FOREWARNED, FOREARMED – How do I apply for Overseas jobs the legal way and avoid illegal
recruiters?
Be a documented OFW!
As your future – as well as your loved ones – is at
stake, you need to be vigilant at all times. You must
exert due diligence every step of the way. Do not be
misled or influenced by mere hearsay; be critical of
what you read. Seek confirmation from the POEA
itself. Here are some pointers for you to seriously take
into account –
Deal only with licensed recruitment agencies; they
are the only ones authorized to recruit and deploy
workers.
An agency without a license means it is an illegal
recruiter!
10 Reminders

4. Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) Online - powered by JobStreet.com
Module 3: FOREWARNED, FOREARMED – How do I apply for Overseas jobs the legal way and avoid illegal
recruiters?
How you can be safe from illegal recruiters:
1) Make sure the licensed agency has a POEA approved
job order.
2) Deal only with authorized representatives of a licensed
agency; an ID is not enough. Licensed agencies are
required to post their organizational charts as well as
the names and photos of their officers and employees.
3) Transact business only in the registered office address
of the licensed agency; be sure the publicized office
and the office you are going to are one and the same.
4) Pay only the maximum allowable placement fee of one
month of the basic salary, exclusive of documentation
cost. But collection of such fees from seafarers and
household service workers (HSWs) are prohibited.
There are countries like the United Kingdom, Ireland,
Norway, the Netherlands, and the provinces of
Canada: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British
Columbia that do not allow collection of placement
fees.
10 reminders

5. Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) Online - powered by JobStreet.com
Module 3: FOREWARNED, FOREARMED – How do I apply for Overseas jobs the legal way and avoid illegal
recruiters?
How you can be safe from illegal recruiters:
5) Pay the placement fee after signing the Employment
Contract; demand an official receipt (OR)
6) Do not send money by money transfer or remittance
of any form just to receive application forms or to
process your papers in exchange of a job abroad.
7) When offered a tourist or visit visa to work abroad,
turn it down. A legal job offer means a visa or work
permit will be issued you.
8) Deal directly with government offices; avoid fixers!
9) Memorize : www.poea.gov.ph
10 reminders

6. Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) Online - powered by JobStreet.com
Module 3: FOREWARNED, FOREARMED – How do I apply for Overseas jobs the legal way and avoid illegal
recruiters?
Illegal Recruiters Think They’re Clever, But you know Better!
Know the modus operandi of illegal recruiters. Here are some
of the tactics they use to mislead and extract hard-earned
money from job applicants.
Blind Advertisements
- Without completely identifying themselves, recruiters
advertise job openings in newspapers asking applicants to
send in their papers via a P.O. Box address, and a minimal
processing fee. You will never know for a fact what they
advertise is for real. There is no way you can check this!
Chances are they will continue to ask more money to
continue with the “processing” of your papers!
Correspondence
- Like the blind advertisements, you are asked to submit
your job application through the mail together with a minimal
processing fee.
Don’t be misled!

7. Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) Online - powered by JobStreet.com
Module 3: FOREWARNED, FOREARMED – How do I apply for Overseas jobs the legal way and avoid illegal
recruiters?
Illegal Recruiters Think They’re Clever, But you know Better!
Tourist Visa, Worker Talaga!
- Illegally recruited workers leave the country as tourists to
work abroad. Without proper documentation, workers who
fall for this trap are open to abuse and cannot report
cases of maltreatment because they are working illegally.
Worst of all, you cannot enforce the contract in court. Do
things right! Go through the legal process the POEA
provides and enjoy enormous benefits you are entitled to.
Escort Services
- Unscrupulous persons escort workers to the airports and
stealthily board the plane without the required travel
documents. When they can no longer
back out, the workers will be forced to pay hundreds of
thousands of pesos as facilitation fee.

8. Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) Online - powered by JobStreet.com
Module 3: FOREWARNED, FOREARMED – How do I apply for Overseas jobs the legal way and avoid illegal
recruiters?
Illegal Recruiters Think They’re Clever, But you know Better!
Backdoor Exit
- Illegally recruited workers leave the country through the
southern ports of exit where immigration control may be
lax. They board cargo ships or boats. Once abroad they
are on their own – no one to protect them from employers’
abuses, no benefits to enjoy.
Forged Documents
- Illegal recruiters facilitate the departure of workers from
the Philippines using falsified documents, i.e., birth
certificate, “baklas” passports;
- illegal recruiters use this to deploy minors.

9. Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) Online - powered by JobStreet.com
Module 3: FOREWARNED, FOREARMED – How do I apply for Overseas jobs the legal way and avoid illegal
recruiters?
Illegal Recruiters Think They’re Clever, But you know Better!
Direct Hire
- In this type of illegal activity, an employer hires Filipino job
applicants without going through POEA or Philippine licensed
agencies. The law prohibits direct hiring.
Trainee-Worker Scheme
- Under the pretext that they are going to be trained abroad,
applicants are asked to sign a Training Agreement with the
recruiter but actually works in hotels/restaurants in a foreign
country where they are just given allowances or paid salaries
way below those given regular employees
Tie-up of Kabit System (Repro-scheme)
- Unlicensed agencies recruit workers using the facilities of a
licensed recruiter : a worker is processed using the job order of
a licensed agency. Upon reaching the country of destination,
the actual job given is not the actual job stated in the job order.
For example the papers of a household worker is processed as
nurse, saleslady or janitress.

10. Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) Online - powered by JobStreet.com
Module 3: FOREWARNED, FOREARMED – How do I apply for Overseas jobs the legal way and avoid illegal
recruiters?
Illegal Recruiters Think They’re Clever, But you know Better!
Visa Assistance or Immigration Consultancy
-There are some companies that operate as consultants
to guide applicants on how to obtain an immigrant visa;
this is legal. But offering a job overseas is illegal. Always
be on guard!
Seminars/Sports Events/Conferences
-Illegal recruiters facilitate the participation of applicants to
well-known seminars, sports events or conferences
abroad, then stay to work there.
Mail Order Bride Scheme
-Recruiters arrange the marriage between Filipino women
and foreigners. Once in the country of destination, the
“wife” ends up as a domestic helper and suffers
immeasurably!

11. Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) Online - powered by JobStreet.com
Module 3: FOREWARNED, FOREARMED – How do I apply for Overseas jobs the legal way and avoid illegal
recruiters?
Illegal Recruiters Think They’re Clever, But you know Better!
Online Scam
- Spam and scam rhyme - be very careful when receiving
notices of job availabilities abroad! Do not give information
freely about yourself or other data that scammers may use
to develop a very tempting job offer.
The bottom line is to immediately check and confirm with
the POEA. Remember, an agency without a POEA
license is an illegal recruiter without a conscience!
Do not fall for offers for an easier way to go abroad. As a
completely documented worker, you are entitled to the
government’s full protection! Enjoy your rights, privileges,
and benefits! The POEA way is definitely the right way!