The Department of Labor and Employment warned the Overseas Filipino workers against working in South Korea through illegal means as “escort-service”.

Labor secretary Marianito Roque cited a report from Seoul-based labor attaché Delmer Cruz saying that there have been Filipino overseas performing artists who entered Korea and issued E-6 visas by the Korea Immigration Services (KIS) without passing through the legal deployment process by the Philippine Employment Overseas Administration (POEA).

Roque said that there’s an inconsistency in the number of such artists verified by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Seoul and processed by POEA and the data provided by KIS on OFWs issued e-visas in South Korea, indicating the entry of illegally recruited performers to this country.

The KIS is responsible in issuing e-visas to foreign artists who would want to work in Korea.

The labor chief reminds all OFWs who wants to seek for a better future to work as a legal worker in a legal profession.

OFWs going to South Korea through illegal means also “put their lives and welfare at great risk,” adding that they may fall prey to abusive employers on site.

According to Roque, that such illegal recruitment to unauthorized escort service victimizes vulnerable OFWs. He admitted that the POLO-Seoul had assisted number of performers who confessed having departed for Korea due to escort service.

The escort service modus is often practiced in Philippine international airports wherein illegal recruiters and human smugglers conspire with some personnel in airport or immigration to let undocumented OFWs exit the country without getting noticed.

Roque called on OFWs not to fall prey to individuals promising overseas jobs without verifying first with POEA whether the promised jobs are legal or not, adding that illegal recruitment like the escort service scheme does not afford them the protection and welfare services that are available to OFWs processed by the POEA.

Roque said that by verifying with POEA, Filipino entertainers and other OFWs seeking jobs in Korea may also be apprised of Korean employers/promoters and entertainment venues with derogatory records and not suited to employ Filipino workers.