THE BUREAU of Immigration (BI) barred from leaving the country three suspected human trafficking victims bound for Dubai on May 17. In a press statement, BI Port Operations Division Chief Grifton SP. Medina said the three females intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) had job contracts showing that they were hired as kitchen staff, waitress and sales assistant in Dubai, but will actually work as domestic helpers. “This ‘upgrading’ of work is another scheme by illegal recruiters. Their victims are made to appear that they were recruited for high paying jobs when, in fact, they would be getting meager salaries, often even lower than what household service workers receive,” Mr. Medina was quoted as saying. Mr. Medina also said that while the women presented valid United Arab Emirates visas and job contracts, their overseas employment certificates were fake. The three were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for investigation and assistance. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

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