Filipinos in China

By Neps Guisona

Last week, I wrote about the sacrifices a Filipino should make in China. I detailed how they’re victimized by heartless recruiters – both Chinese and its Filipino counterparts.

Today, I want to share an article originally written by Prof. Christopher_Panlaqui called “12 Commandments to Avoid Illegal Recruiters.”
I will tailor my commentary (red ink) on Professor Panlaqui’s discussion as I see fit in China’s situation. Happy job hunting in China everyone and I wish you all good luck.

TAKE NOTE: CHINA GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ACCEPT OFFER DOMESTIC HELPER JOBS FOR FILIPINOS AND OTHERS (EXCEPT THE LOCAL CHINESE). IF YOU ARE INDEED OFFERED WITH DOMESTIC HELPER JOB, I AM 100% SURE IT IS FAKE. REMEMBER THAT IT IS FAKE AND YOU ARE RISKING YOUR SAFETY IN CHINA.

1. Do not apply at recruitment agency not authorized by POEA - Not because they say they are authorized you will now fully trust them. I have a friend OFW who was tricked by an authorized agency. Yes, they issued him a receipt required by POEA which is a month's salary, but actually he paid three times the amount but the issued receipt is less than what he has paid! I asked this fellow why he agreed and I also told him that what had happened to him is also his fault.

Although this is not always true in China since many professionals (take note professionals) do come here with a valid Tourist Visa. The point is, once you get a good job here, your employer may offer you a work visa. Be cautious though because it does not always work like this. Always ask around before coming to China.

2. Do not deal with licensed agencies without job order - If you are paying for the service of the agent, who gives you the job, make sure the job really exist? Usually, the employer or his representative will come to the Philippines to conduct an interview, so if there is no any interview, you should take extra care.

Paying for the agent is another way to speedy processing of documents. In China, however, you have to be very careful.

3. Do not deal with any person who is not an authorized representative of a licensed agency - Make sure the person you are dealing with is an authorized agent. Do not be misled by those fixers or people approaching you on the street, or while you are in coffee shops, riding in a bus and other instances. They could be real agents but they cannot be as well. So it is better to check their authenticity. If they gave their contact numbers, try to call the telephone numbers or visit the given address without letting them know. Ask around if other applicant knows the name of the agency or the agent himself.

Do not trust agents too much. Always ask around. Try to ask some people who have been to China or an in China. They know better.

4. Do not transact business outside the registered address of the Agency - They could be an agent, but a former one. Yes, they have given you their address, you called and they really exist. Many applicants know them but maybe he or she is not working there anymore that is why she is dealing outside the registered address. It is plain simple common sense.

This is very true in China because I heard from a Chinese lawyer friend that China does not have stricter laws that punish illegal recruiters. The best China government can do is to penalize the agency ranging from 5K – 50K Chinese Yuan.

5. If the Agency has a provincial office, check if the agency has a provincial recruitment authority - Just call their main office or POEA to check them.

Not all China jobs are registered with POEA. Therefore, it does not mean, they are illegal. There are many legitimate jobs in China offering work visa Z.

6. Do not pay more than the allowed placement fee - The right agency do not ask too much placement fee from the applicant because the employers also pays them
when supplied by worker which is more than what the applicant has paid.

In China, I personally feel there is no placement fee required.

7. Placement fee should only be equal to a month's salary exclusive of documentation and other misc fees - Make sure you know how much you will be getting; this one month salary is just the basic salary. If your employers give additional allowance such as food, housing and transportation it is not included as additional value to your placement fee.

In China, I personally feel there should be no placement fee required.

8. Do not pay any placement fee unless you have a verified and valid contract and an official receipt - Be interviewed by the employer or his representative, read and understood your contract and given a copy of your contract, you already know your salary and benefits before you pay any cash, and always ask for the receipt equivalent to what you have paid.

In China, I personally feel there should be no placement fee required.

9. Do not respond to ads or brochures that gives a PO Box address - Another common sense, do not even respond, if they just gave a telephone number.

Common sense should be used here. This is very true all over the world.

10. Do not enclose processing fees in a letter - You do not have any common sense if you are going to do this. So do not do this most of all - Do not deal with training centers and travel agency who promise overseas employment. Some can really help you but most of them do not. Some Immigration consultant agency is one of them. They can also help you but you should not trust all of them. Actually, they are just guiding you and inform you on how to migrate and to inform you about the present economy of the country that you are planning to migrate. The best thing that you should do is to visit the foreign country's immigration site. From there, you will know everything about their policy and if your profession is in-demand to that country.

Common sense should be used here. This is very true all over the world.

11. Do not accept tourist Visa - Well, if you are not sure that it is the best thing to do. Do not accept tourist Visa or leave the country without any VISA if your purpose is to find work abroad. Some people manage to enter a foreign country and get a job after obtaining a Tourist VISA. I do not encourage people to accept Tourist VISA because it is risky to some other strict nation such as US, Japan and Canada but just in case you have already accepted this, here is just my comment. Make sure your Tourist VISA is really a VISA, not fake or not just a copy stamped in your passport. Foreign immigration does not punish people entering their country if you are just a Tourist Visa holder. Remember that the most important thing when going overseas is to have a valid VISA rather than nothing. Now, as a Tourist VISA holder, you are not allowed to work. But if you get the job, make sure your employer secures your permit or the working visa to work legally. You should only carry Tourist VISA if you have some close relatives who can help you when you reach your destination. But if no one, it is not advisable. Plus, make sure you have enough funds to support yourself and to travel back to the Philippines in case you need to leave the foreign country.

Sometimes it is necessary in China to arrive in tourist visa. But generally, I don’t recommend it. Get a valid work visa before coming to China. China has embassy in Manila and consular offices in Laoag City and Cebu City. Check around.

12. Do not deal with fixers - Some fixers really help but most of them are crooks, I am not saying that all of them are bad. Some of them will help you without too much in return but most of them will collect above-the-head payment from you. Most of the time, they are giving you FAKE documents, but there are some who do not do this. So make sure you know the person you are asking for a favor.

Common sense should be used here.

Prof. Christopher Panlaqui hopes these commandments be a little help and an eye opener for all of us so that we may continue to see our great opportunity for greener pasture that awaits us in other countries.

I also hope this indeed helped those who read it.

The author is a lecturer of physics and freelance researcher from the Philippines. He is based in Shanghai, China.

Reference: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_Panlaqui