A solon raised alarm over a growing wave of illegal recruitment targeting Filipinos seeking overseas jobs, warning that worsening economic conditions and global instability are making workers more vulnerable to exploitation.
During a hearing of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development on Thursday, Senator Raffy Tulfo said recruiters are taking advantage of displaced workers and returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) by offering misleadingly high-paying jobs abroad.
He cited recent cases involving Filipino women recruited for supposed work as massage therapists in Malaysia, as well as others lured with promises of jobs in Japan and Canada offering salaries of P70,000 up to P130,000 monthly, only to end up in abusive and exploitative conditions.
Tulfo said desperation among job seekers has created opportunities for illegal recruiters to exploit vulnerable applicants.
In response, he urged government agencies to strengthen efforts against illegal recruitment and trafficking, noting that despite existing safeguards, some victims still manage to leave the country under false pretenses.
He also called for a review of current penalties and enforcement mechanisms, saying that existing sanctions do not appear strong enough to deter offenders.
Meanwhile, Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito also raised concerns about the government’s capacity to address human trafficking, pointing to limitations in funding and operations.
Ejercito stressed the need to strike a balance between tighter immigration screening and protecting vulnerable groups, particularly women who are frequently targeted by traffickers.
He questioned whether the Department of Migrant Workers has sufficient resources to support monitoring, rescue operations, and legal assistance for distressed OFWs.
In response, officials from the agency said the 2026 budget for the Migrant Workers Protection Bureau stands at around P17 million, which is allocated for limited personnel and online monitoring activities.
They also noted challenges in prosecution, explaining that some cases are dismissed when victims opt to settle complaints with recruiters.
The agency suggested exploring legal reforms that would allow the government itself to act as a complainant in trafficking cases, with victims serving as witnesses to ensure that cases proceed even after settlements.
Ejercito said the concerns raised during the hearing may be taken up during the upcoming budget deliberations to seek possible increases in funding for anti-trafficking efforts.