The Philippine Embassy in Jakarta has reported that teachers are illegally recruited to work in Indonesia, resulting to several cases of illegal termination and unfair labor practices.  The teachers reportedly enter Indonesia as tourists, in package tours in batches of five, to avoid detection by Indonesian immigration authorities.  They avail of the visa upon arrival facility extended to Filipino nationals, which is valid only for thirty (30) days and is non-extendable and non-renewable.

Prospective Filipino teachers who wish to work in Indonesia are therefore advised to secure work visas in order to be able to work in Indonesia.  In posing as a tourist, the teachers face unnecessary risks of immediate deportation should their true intention be detected by Indonesian immigration authorities.  They are also advised to have their employment contract processed by the POEA to prevent them from being made to sign one-sided employment contracts in favor of their employees with salaries much lower than what was promised to them.

For the information of all concerned.

Adopted: 24 Aug. 2004