The department records 6 human trafficking cases involving Filipinos seeking work in Japan last year
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines warned its citizens on Wednesday, August 3, against illegally travelling to Japan in search of work, saying they risked being trafficked for sex or forced labor.
Following offers of work, a number of Filipinos have travelled there on tourist visas but later found themselves in fake or forced marriages with Japanese citizens, Manila's foreign department said in a statement.
The department recorded 6 human trafficking cases involving Filipinos who sought work in Japan last year, spokesman Charles Jose told the Agence France-Presse.
Two were sexually exploited and 4 were made to work against their will, he added.
"Be mindful not to interact with those who promise employment in Japan but end up... inducing a person to engage in fake or forced marriages with Japanese nationals for the purpose of exploitation," the department said in an advisory.
"Foreign tourists are not allowed to work in Japan. Working while having a tourist visa is considered an immigration violation and a criminal offence, and may lead to incarceration and deportation," it added.
About 10 million Filipinos, or a tenth of the population, work abroad to escape widespread poverty and scant job opportunities at home, official estimates show.
A quarter of the population live on $1.30 a day or less.
Source: rappler.com
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