3 weeks ago
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Mayen Jaymalin - The Philippine Star
February 21, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — After being forced to work as scammers in Myanmar, 12 Filipino victims of illegal recruitment have returned home, according to the Department of Migrant Workers.
The DMW said the government provided assistance to the Filipino workers who were repatriated from Myanmar on Wednesday.
“They were given psychosocial, financial and legal aid upon their arrival,” the DMW said.
The repatriates were among 250 people held at the Myanmar scam center and reported to have been released at the Thai border, Phop Phraas.
Investigation showed that the 12 OFWs were recruited as customer sales representatives in Myanmar through Facebook by a Filipino.
However, they ended up working as online scammers without pay or rest days.
“They were beaten and subjected to electric shocks. Sometimes, they were forced to squat for hours,” the DMW said.
The Filipino workers sought permission to leave, but were asked to pay $15,000, prompting them to run away and were later assisted by the Myanmar military.
The DMW reminded Filipinos seeking overseas employment to be wary of dubious job offers on social media.
The agency also extended financial assistance to 12 other OFWs in the Cayman Islands whose rented house was gutted by fire last month.
