The Philippine government continues to bar the deployment of Filipino workers to Myanmar due to the increasing number of human trafficking and illegal recruitment cases in the country, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) confirmed.
According to OWWA, the deployment ban stays in force as more Filipinos fall victim to syndicates operating in so-called “scam hubs” in Myanmar. Many of them were initially promised legitimate jobs as customer service representatives but were later forced into fraudulent online operations.
In a public advisory, OWWA reminded job seekers to “avoid job offers in Myanmar and neighboring countries that are not approved by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) or that did not pass through recruitment agencies.” The agency also urged aspiring overseas workers not to send personal details, passports, or money to online recruiters.
Filipinos already victimized by human trafficking syndicates in Myanmar are encouraged to coordinate with the Philippine Embassy in Yangon for assistance.
Meanwhile, DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said the government is currently processing the repatriation of 220 Filipinos who were rescued from Myanmar-based scam operations. Many of them are now staying at the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, after crossing the border to escape.
Cacdac added that coordination is ongoing with the Migrant Workers Office in Bangkok to facilitate their return to the Philippines, noting that the number of repatriation requests could still rise.
