Home › Forums › Jobs Market › Job Requirements

Recruitment Agency for Doha Qatar

Mon, 2008-07-28 13:43 — planetgee22

Hi every one! I'm gee and I am here to ask some questions about the Agency here in the Philippines..
The story is this, I applied as an accountant for a compnay in Doha, i was interviewed by the employer and said that I'm hired already.. After that i had my medical and the agency ask for my passport for the processing of my visa,so I gave my passport to the agency.. After a month of waiting for my visa to come i have changed my mind and I informed the agency that I will no longer pursue my application for Doha.. They said that I have to pay a penalty amounting to 300USD (around Php13,500.00) because they already send my papers for the processing of my Visa..They will not give back my passport if I will not pay the said amount as a penalty.. Now my question is, do I really have to pay for the said amount? Is it legal for the agency to ask for that amount of money? Because for me its really big deal to pay for Php13,500.00 since nothing happened to my application yet.. And besides I don't know if it's legal.. i hope you could help me.. I really need to know what's the best thing to do so that I could have my passport from them.. hope you could help me guys.. thank you so much! and more power mga kabayan!!

‹ Please Help Medical Test ›
Tue, 2008-07-29 14:27 — Helium Sun

DONT PAY A SINGLE CENTAVO

First of all, you do not have to pay a single centavo.

Report the incident to OWWA, or POEA or whatever government agency is in charge of the managing these recruitment agencies. I think its POEA since you are technically an OFW yet. Its written in bold letters in the hallways of reputable recruitment agencies “that the agency shall not collect any fees…..(qualifications apply), or shall not collect a fee exceeding….”

In the first place, your turning back on an accepted offer remains your prerogative and a risk borne by the employer. I have done that, even when the ticket has been issued in my name and did not pay a single centavo. First of all, if the offer is not that good, and you got a better deal either locally or abroad, why would you be beholden to a foreign company who tried to give you less than what you are worth? Secondly, the recruitment agency will not be held liable by the company for the processing of your visa and the cost associated to it, WHY THE HELL SHOULD THEY CHARGE YOU? Sending your papers to via courier should not cost that much, and even if it did, it’s a risk borne by the recruitment company, NOT YOU. Third, the worst thing that could happen is for your name to appear both in the recruitment company’s database and the foreign company’s database as one who turned back on a signed contract, therefore you will not be able to apply in the same agency or in the same foreign company or its affiliates.

IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO HOLD THE PASSPORT OF ANY CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES, OR ANY NATIONALITY BY ANY RECRUITMENT AGENCY OR ITS REPRESENTATIONS. File a complaint with POEA, research the actual law on OFW fees and mention it in your complaint…tapos copy furnished mo yung agency. You can even cite the case as qualified theft, harassment, illegal practice of trade etc etc etc.

Having said that, although reneging on an offer sheet is entirely your choice, you must also remember that your signature bears significance. You gave your word but you backed down on it. I hope that when any of our kabayans still in the Philippines decide to work abroad, make up your mind first, think a thousand times and live your decision.

I hope this helps and goodluck.

Tue, 2008-07-29 14:27 — Helium Sun

DONT PAY A SINGLE CENTAVO

First of all, you do not have to pay a single centavo.

Report the incident to OWWA, or POEA or whatever government agency is in charge of the managing these recruitment agencies. I think its POEA since you are technically an OFW yet. Its written in bold letters in the hallways of reputable recruitment agencies “that the agency shall not collect any fees…..(qualifications apply), or shall not collect a fee exceeding….”

In the first place, your turning back on an accepted offer remains your prerogative and a risk borne by the employer. I have done that, even when the ticket has been issued in my name and did not pay a single centavo. First of all, if the offer is not that good, and you got a better deal either locally or abroad, why would you be beholden to a foreign company who tried to give you less than what you are worth? Secondly, the recruitment agency will not be held liable by the company for the processing of your visa and the cost associated to it, WHY THE HELL SHOULD THEY CHARGE YOU? Sending your papers to via courier should not cost that much, and even if it did, it’s a risk borne by the recruitment company, NOT YOU. Third, the worst thing that could happen is for your name to appear both in the recruitment company’s database and the foreign company’s database as one who turned back on a signed contract, therefore you will not be able to apply in the same agency or in the same foreign company or its affiliates.

IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO HOLD THE PASSPORT OF ANY CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES, OR ANY NATIONALITY BY ANY RECRUITMENT AGENCY OR ITS REPRESENTATIONS. File a complaint with POEA, research the actual law on OFW fees and mention it in your complaint…tapos copy furnished mo yung agency. You can even cite the case as qualified theft, harassment, illegal practice of trade etc etc etc.

Having said that, although reneging on an offer sheet is entirely your choice, you must also remember that your signature bears significance. You gave your word but you backed down on it. I hope that when any of our kabayans still in the Philippines decide to work abroad, make up your mind first, think a thousand times and live your decision.

I hope this helps and goodluck.