Philippines cancels licences after Dubai jobs scandal

JOBS BLOW: 137 Filipino bus drivers were duped into taking bogus jobs in Dubai.

Officials in the Philippines have cancelled the licences of seven recruitment agencies over the duping 137 bus drivers into bogus jobs in Dubai, it was reported on Sunday.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration's acting administrator Hans Cacdac revoked the licences of CYM International Services and Placement Agency, SGA-Sahara International Manpower Services, Across Universe International Manpower Agency, Jenvic International Manpower Services, BML Worldwide Manpower Services Inc, Richfield Overseas Employment Co, and Al Anwar International Manpower, Inquirer.net reported.

Five others agencies had their licences suspended and were fined after 4,000 phantom jobs were advertised by CYM with the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai, Cacdac added.

The bus drivers, mostly from Central Luzon, received flyers distributed in various transport terminals and were later promised hefty salaries in exchange for a placement fee of 150,000 pesos ($3,157).

The drivers and their families borrowed money from the lending agency referred to them by the recruiter, Cacdac said, adding that many were forced to scavenge in dump sites after arriving in Dubai and discovering there were no jobs available.

“Except for those who signed affidavits of desistance, the drivers will get refunds for whatever they paid or given the recruiter or RJ Lacaba lending agency. The refunds will be charged against the escrow deposits of each agency,” Cacdac said.

When fellow Filipinos in Dubai learned of their situation, they donated food, water, and other items to help. Many of them have since returned home, the report added.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Further action
Posted by fil expat, Abu Dhabi, UAE on Wednesday 18 November 2009 at 15:46 UAE time


There should be a criminal liability for the perpetrators as these greatly affect our kababayans. These agencies caused a lot of problems on the side of the victims. They should answer to the law and pay penalties to the family which they victimized. Not only they wasted the money and time of the victim and his family but put the future of the family of the victim at risks.

Philippines cancels licences after Dubai jobs scandal
Posted by CSS, Dubai, UK on Sunday 15 November 2009 at 09:37 UAE time


Cancelling the licences of these rouge agencies is a good move, but this should be a start only. Justice must be done and the innocent people who suffered owing to the greed of these rogues must be compensated. The Government must cease their assets and compensate the victims. The rouges must be exposedand put in prison. That would be the least.

let 'em face justice
Posted by langyaw, Dubai, UAE on Monday 9 November 2009 at 10:47 UAE time


those recruiters scammed people, which not just resulted to frustration, but also putting them in debt. IMHO, *that* is a criminal offense. surely the country's government authorities can do better than canceling licenses.
good move, Mr. Hans, but there's a better one - let them have their day in court to answer why they should not spend time in jail.

suspension
Posted by hans, dubai, uae on Monday 9 November 2009 at 09:59 UAE time


Well done Mr Cacdac, I am proud your name is Hans because so is mine, there should be more people like you in the government and our beloved Philippines would be much better off. Keep the good work up Sir.

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