DFA Issues Warning Against Job Offers in Trinidad and Tobago and Travel Advisory To Thailand

Warning Against Job Offers in Trinidad and Tobago

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is again asking Filipino workers to be cautious when dealing with recruiters that offer job opportunities in other countries, this time in Trinidad and Tobago.

The government agency informed that there are some companies that offer Filipino workers a chance to work in Trinidad and Tobago by helping them acquire a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Skills Certification. The company demands payment from the applicants, supposedly for the processing of the application papers to Trinidad and Tobago.

The DFA learned of this scheme when they received an email from an applicant inquiring about the requirements needed to acquire a CARICOM skills certification for employment. The email sender is a fire engineer that is currently employed in Saudi Arabia.

Apparently, the fire engineer received an offer to work as Maintenance and Fire Safety Engineer for a company in Trinidad and Tobago. He got interested because of the high salary it offers. However along with the job offer is a requirement to get a CARICOM Skills Certificate. He also needs to pay USD765 supposedly for the notarial and legal service fees.

However, the Philippine Embassy in Venezuela said that Filipino workers and other foreigners are not entitled to get a CARICOM skills certificate. This is because it is only given to citizens of CARICOM member-countries which include: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat (UK), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Travel Advisory To Thailand

Due to continued reports of violence in Bangkok, the DFA issued another travel advisory to Thailand. The agency advised the public to cancel travel plans to the said country especially in the city of Bangkok. The DFA also reminds Filipinos who are already in Thailand to be careful and avoid places where rallyists and protesters frequent.