Filipinos eyeing employment in New Zealand should verify every job offer against the licensed agency list on the Department of Migrant Workers’ official website, dmw.gov.ph, before signing anything or handing over money, officials cautioned this week.
The advisory came out of the Philippines–New Zealand Friendship Week observance held at the DMW Central Office in Mandaluyong City on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, where the department and the Embassy of New Zealand jointly flagged the risks of illegal recruitment and employment scams targeting Filipino applicants.
A central warning concerned money changing hands during hiring. DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac pointed to guidance from New Zealand immigration authorities on spotting fraudulent offers, singling out demands for placement fees as a clear red flag.
“Sa ating mga job applicants, mag ingat lamang po sa illegal recruitment. Nandito po ang Immigration of New Zealand na nagbigay ng mga tips kung paano maiwasan ang illegal recruitment. Tulad ng kapag nananaga ng placement fee, kasi bawal ang placement fee sa New Zealand,” Cacdac said.
Beyond fees, the DMW and the embassy urged applicants to scrutinize the terms of any prospective job—the employment contract, recruitment charges, and working conditions—before committing, since scrutiny at that stage is often what separates legitimate offers from scams.
Applicants were also directed to deal only with recruitment agencies holding proper licenses, a step the department framed as the baseline for anyone pursuing overseas work through legitimate channels.
