Trapped, abandoned: Filipino workers lured to Poland by shadowy agents

In order to keep identities confidential, the names denoted with an asterisk* have undergone modifications.

During a freezing February evening, Robby was concluding his work shift on a chicken factory production line situated in Mlawa, Poland.

He was eager to return home to have dinner and get some rest.

Suddenly, a knocking sound interrupted their work, and everyone in the factory became uneasy when a team of police officers came through the door. Apparently, they had been informed that the business was hiring individuals who didn't have proper documentation.

The migrant employees were led to an establishment where their documents were inspected.

Robby, an individual from the Philippines who had been employed at the location for a period of two months, was unaware that he was encountering difficulties.

He expressed to Al Jazeera that he had no knowledge of his illegal status. He believed that his agency had secured a valid work permit for him. Upon being caught, he experienced a deep feeling of shame and humiliation, as if he were a criminal. The police had taken him and others into custody, placing them in a vehicle that had bars.

Robby got caught and was held in custody for one day. During the interrogation, the Polish immigration officials revealed to him that he would be expelled.

Al Jazeera interviewed six Filipinos who were tricked into leaving their country and heading to Poland for work through fraudulent recruitment schemes.

The adventure commonly begins with a tap. Optimistic job seekers answer to several hundred advertisements published on the internet and social networking sites which claim to provide Filipinos secure and decent-paying employment in Poland, a nation with a populace of around 40 million, however, these advertisements are untrue.

The recruiters assure that acquiring permanent residency and becoming a European citizen will be effortless.

Filipino workers hand over thousands of dollars to these agents in hopes of starting a new life in Europe. Unfortunately, in some instances, the jobs promised do not come to fruition.

A number of the people who were interviewed and eventually went on a trip were parents who had always wished to have their children live with them.

Cora*, who is now 44 years old, expressed her discontent with the situation in Poland since arriving in the country with her husband Ronald* one year ago. She believes that it is important for her fellow Filipinos to be aware of these issues.

There are Filipinos who desire to migrate to Europe with the expectation of acquiring European residency. Nonetheless, this belief is false since it is not the case. We had the notion that we will be deemed as European residents; hence, we are feeling extremely disappointed.

Cora and Ronald gave over $11,000 to a recruitment agency in the Philippines to secure their positions in a factory located outside of Warsaw.

They claimed that they were not informed beforehand about the requirement to reside in Poland for a minimum of five years and pass a language proficiency examination in order to qualify for permanent residency rights.

The bureau also promised that they would obtain permanent employment and work directly for the company they were assigned to. However, upon arrival, they realized that they were actually going to work fluctuating hours under a subcontractor.

Cora mentioned that she engages in temporary employment that corresponds with the seasons. However, there are occasions when the work is not available. She earns an hourly wage of approximately 20 zloty, which is equivalent to $5.

Similar to Robby, they are workers who do not have legal documentation or temporary residency permits, and they fear that law enforcement will discover their status and expel them from the country.

Ronald reveals that he makes weekly inquiries about visas from his agency.

According to Cora, the expenses of living are very elevated, thus the couple won't be able to recover the charges they have paid to the agents. Nevertheless, they still perceive that it is necessary to accumulate some cash before departing.

Occasionally, there are months where we don't have many working hours. On occasion, you may work for a month, but then find yourself terminated by the manager, which requires the agency to look for another job for you. This can result in a 2 or 3 week period where you are waiting for a new job opportunity to come up.

When they laid eyes on the place that the agency gave them, it left them feeling stunned. At first, they were promised a place of their own, but instead, they were lodged into a cramped five-bedroom flat with eight other people. The group only has access to one bathroom and a tiny kitchen that everyone has to share.

Cora expressed that queuing up for the restroom and WC on a regular basis is quite challenging.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) of the United Nations, the number of Filipino workers in Poland has been increasing, with around 30,000 at present. However, these workers are vulnerable to being mistreated or having their rights violated. Sadly, this includes being paid insufficiently or not being paid at all, as well as being given inadequate housing with unsanitary conditions and no access to clean water.

All the employees whom Al Jazeera had a conversation with expressed a feeling of sorrow or disappointment.

Evangeline, who is 43 years old, expressed that even though the expenses are overly exorbitant, she and her peers are willing to take a chance by relocating to Poland in search of fresh prospects and adventures.

She spent $5,700 on a recruitment firm to secure a temporary position at a flooring factory.

"She expressed her discontentment by stating that some of us are let down."

Ana, who is 30 years old, spent $4,080 to secure her job in Poland. Her recruiter promised her a monthly salary of over $700. After she was hired, she was assigned to work at a fish processing plant in Grzybowo. Unfortunately, her hourly wage ended up being only $3 per hour.

According to her, 18 other Filipino workers who were hired at the same factory have left their positions and are now searching for informal employment opportunities elsewhere in Europe.

She said that a few of the girls departed in the wee hours of the morning while the landlady was asleep. The job brokers inquired about their sudden departure, and we explained that it was due to our individual circumstances and the pay rate offered.

The government of the Philippines has become aware of an increasing issue and has expressed concern regarding dishonest job recruiters operating in Poland. These recruiters have been targeting Filipinos employed in various countries, including the United Arab Emirates, and the government has issued multiple advisories to raise awareness.

The method of hiring known as "third-country" and "cross-country" recruitment violates the regulation set by the government of the Philippines, which mandates that individuals can only be employed through government-accredited agencies.

The government does not provide Filipino cross-country recruits with an official document that grants them access to their embassy’s assistance in case they face problems while working overseas.

Robby quit his job in Saudi Arabia in order to pursue employment opportunities in Poland.

The Polish government gave him papers stating that he was a victim of human trafficking after they arrested him.

Nevertheless, due to not having proper documentation such as an overseas employment certificate, the Philippine embassy declined to cover the cost of his flight back to his country of origin.

The government of Poland declined to provide financial support for his return journey.

A representative from immigration provided him with a pamphlet that contains instructions on how to connect with the IOM to arrange for a return flight to his home country.

Robby expressed his disappointment about leaving the Middle East after he returned home on February 17, feeling distressed from being detained. He is still finding it challenging to adapt to his life in the Philippines.

According to a representative who spoke with Al Jazeera, the IOM is not responsible for deportations. Instead, the organization provides a program for voluntary returns and reintegration for migrants who wish to return to their home country and all expenses are covered. If they are victims of human trafficking, they are also eligible for this program.

When this blog was written, Al Jazeera was still awaiting a response from the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw and the country's Department of Migrant Workers regarding their request for comment.