Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
THE MINISTRY of Labour and Social Security has said that it will be aggressively clamping down on persons who are recruiting persons for overseas employment without its approval.
Barrington Bailey, senior director of manpower services in the ministry, told The Gleaner that the ministry was made aware of this latest development of persons who have been fleeced of millions of dollars.
He said in recent weeks there has been an increase in the number of reports about the scam.
SO-CALLED AGENCIES
"We are appealing to persons not to pay money to so-called agencies that have promised to place them in jobs overseas," said Mr. Bailey.
He said the ministry was currently investigating three incidents. He revealed that persons have paid up to US$1,800 (J$111,000) in registration fees to these persons.
"We are urging members of the public not to pay money unless these persons are approved by the ministry," Mr. Bailey said.
The senior director said that currently the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has only 10 registered companies that can lawfully recruit persons for jobs overseas. He said that in some cases, persons have admitted to wrongdoing and have sought to repay the sums collected. But there have been cases where persons have vanished.
Said Mr. Bailey: "They are very tricky. We are now going with the police to take action on the spot. Our job is to protect the workers."
