Overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who tend to violate the terms of their employment contract while “job hopping” abroad have risen in numbers in several countries recently, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reported on Thursday.
POEA Administrator Bernard P. Olalia said they observed the trend in Poland and Canada, Taiwan, and countries where “third-country” recruitment is prevalent.
“It has come to this administration’s attention that there are OFWs who leave their places of work without their employers’ permission and proceed to other neighboring states to look for new employment,” Olalia said in POEA Advisory 113, Series of 2021.
He warned the illegal activity could damage the reputation of OFWs among foreign employers.
It could also leave the erring OFWs vulnerable to abuse from their new employers.
“Workers are reminded that those who resort to absconding from their employment sponsors become irregularly documented workers. Thus, they may fall prey to unscrupulous individuals who can take advantage of their vulnerable situation,” Olalia said.
The POEA chief also reminded that any form of “unjustified breach of the employment contract” by employers and workers, will be subjected to administrative sanctions.
“This administration hereby reminds all OFWs to fulfill the obligations as contained in their employment contracts. They are reminded to abide by their contracts’ terms and conditions and their companies’ rules and regulations,” Olalia said.