If you or someone you know have a job offer in Vietnam, it pays to make sure that the recruiters one is dealing with is legitimate. This is the recent reminder issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as more reports regarding the activities of an illegal recruiter based in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) reached their office.

According to the DFA, the Philippine Embassy in Vietnam said the illegal recruiter in Vietnam reportedly recruits Filipino workers but asked them to pay for the travel expenses. Upon arriving n Vietnam, the recruiter left the poor workers to themselves. 

An article in the DFA website said, "However, upon arrival in HCMC, with no valid job contracts, work visa, and work permit the victims learn that there are no employers."

The illegal recruiters get to earn money by charging exorbitant airfare fees to their victims.

According to the report, the victims were asked to pay from USD420-USD630 or Php 20,000 to Php 30,000 for the airfare and a service fee of USD100 or roughly Php 4,800.

The DFA said "This is way above the air fare offered by Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines which range from USD200 to USD400."

To avoid being a victim of illegal recruitment, the government agency advised applicants to go through the legal process of overseas recruitment and to consult other agencies that assist workers abroad such as the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA).

It said, "As in all other countries, proper documentation (i.e., valid contract, work visa, and work permit) is a must for foreign workers in Vietnam."

The labor market of Vietnam is not spared by the hit of the global financial crisis. Since late 2008, an estimate of 100 to 150 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Vietnam lost their jobs.

The DFA said that Filipinos employed in Vietnam are hired through proper and professional channels. Most of them are holds executive and managerial positions in professional fields such as in construction and engineering, accountancy, banking and investment, education, garment/textile industry, hotel and restaurant management, food and beverage industry, marketing, furniture industry, medicine, and foreign investment projects