Philippines fails to regulate rogue immigration consultants

Citing lack of jurisdiction, government agencies in Filipinos are powerless against rogue recruitment agencies that claim to help with easy access to Canada

Labor Secretary, Rosalinda Baldoz, said many Filipinos want to pack their bags for the North American market.

The phenomenon of immigration consultants drew the attention of the Government of Canada as the Canadian Immigration and Citizenship Jason Kenney came to the Philippines last month to assess the situation. In a press conference, Kenney said he was aware that people who represent themselves immigration consultants, advertising, and was told that they can help the people from Philippines immigrate to Canada.

New standards in Canada for a temporary foreign worker program now require employers to offer contracts, which determine the salaries, allowances, housing, customs duties, working hours and holidays and sick leave. As a result, immigrants from Philippines sent more money back home to Canada than those in USA

Days after Kenney left Manila, and Premier Baldoz Greg Selinger, Manitoba signed a letter of intent for sending Filipino workers in the Canadian province.

For the province of Manitoba Labour and Immigration Assistant Deputy Minister Ben Rempel, said every recruiter who wishes to hire Filipino workers for employers in Manitoba must be registered with the office in Manitoba, Labour and Immigration.

The CIC website states that immigration officials are people who offer advice to applicants for immigration visa. These agents may be lawyers in good faith or consultants registered with Canadian provincial or territorial Bar or members in nonprofit Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants. They could also be notaries who are members in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec you.

Meanwhile, the average notification CIC warns candidates for immigration fraud, as well as to announce that application forms and guides are provided free of charge.

In the current MOU, Labor and Employment (POEA) will register and accredit employers who hire Filipino workers in Manitoba, while recruitment agencies based in the Philippines, will provide employers with lists Manitoba prequalified Filipino workers. These pre-qualified workers then apply for a work permit in Canada and / or nominations for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

The immigration consultants term is nowhere in the MOU. CIC website does not say that immigration consultants are not allowed to do business.