Filipinos seeking employment in New Zealand are being urged to verify recruitment agencies and job offers before paying fees or leaving the country amid continued cases of illegal recruitment.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac issued the warning during the Philippines-New Zealand Friendship Week celebration in Mandaluyong City on Tuesday, as the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) stepped up efforts to crack down on recruiters offering fraudulent overseas jobs.
Cacdac said jobseekers should be wary of recruiters who demand immediate payment, particularly because placement fees are prohibited for workers bound for New Zealand.
“Kapag nananaga ng placement fee, dahil bawal ang placement fee sa New Zealand eh. So pag nananaga, nagmamadali, sabihin may plane ticket na at kailangan ng magbayad, ‘yan ay mga indikasyon, bahid ‘yan ng illegal recruitment,” Cacdac said.
The warning comes after the DMW arrested a woman in Iloilo City on Aug. 20 who allegedly operated a syndicated illegal recruitment and estafa scheme involving supposed jobs in New Zealand.
The suspect allegedly operated Paragon Visa Consultancy and recruited Filipinos in 2025, charging processing and recruitment fees ranging from P100,000 to P300,000.
The DMW has filed 13 cases against her for syndicated illegal recruitment and estafa.
Some complainants reportedly discovered after arriving in New Zealand that the jobs they had been promised were unavailable, while others were given positions different from what recruiters had offered.
“We will see this case through and ensure that the victims secure justice,” Cacdac said.
He said the DMW has also been pursuing illegal recruiters operating in other parts of the country after conducting around 30 closure operations in Metro Manila this year.
“Dito sa Metro Manila naka 30 closure na tayo ngayong taon, but outside of Metro Manila, maghanda po kayong illegal recruiter dyan, we will come after you,” he said.
Cacdac cited another recent case involving about 1,700 Filipinos who were allegedly recruited for nonexistent jobs in Europe.
He said the DMW canceled the recruitment agency involved and arrested its owner.
For those seeking jobs in New Zealand, Cacdac advised applicants to transact only with licensed recruitment agencies and independently verify their employment offers with the DMW or the New Zealand Embassy.
He also cautioned jobseekers against individuals who claim that they need to hire immigration advisers or counselors to facilitate their applications.
“Kapag may immigration adviser na sinasabing kailangan ng adviser, counselor. Hindi kailangan ang immigration counselor adviser, diretso lang sa DMW, diretso sa New Zealand Embassy,” he said.
The DMW likewise reminded prospective overseas workers to secure the appropriate work visa before leaving the Philippines and to verify the legitimacy of their employment arrangements.
Cacdac said warning signs include recruiters pressuring applicants to pay immediately, demanding large fees and claiming that a departure date or plane ticket is already waiting.
The department urged jobseekers to verify recruitment and employment documents before making any payment to reduce the risk of falling victim to fraudulent overseas job offers.
Photo courtesy of PhilStar
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