Taiwan warns of job scams overseas after Singapore hostess bar incident

[Battle Mech]

Taiwan warns of job scams overseas after Singapore hostess bar incident

The China Post/Asia News Network
Wednesday, Aug 29, 2012

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday warned Taiwanese seeking employment opportunities overseas to be on guard against work scams following a recent incident in Singapore in which two women were tricked and nearly forced to work in a hostess bar.

There have been several cases recently involving victims falling for overseas job schemes, MOFA said in a statement.

Many of these instances saw Taiwanese securing a job offered by a foreign company only to later be paid salaries substantially lower than promised.

Other victims were asked to perform duties that were not specifically stated in their contracts or job descriptions, the statement said.

One of these cases occurred in Singapore, a MOFA official who preferred to remain anonymous told local media yesterday.

Two Taiwanese women who, via an employment agency, signed contracts with a Singaporean company for administrative positions were asked to work in a hostess bar after arriving in the city-state.

They refused to accept the job and demanded to return to Taiwan. Their employers, however, refused to return the women's passports and threatened them with a penalty fee if they were to quit, the MOFA official said.

The women were finally able to return to their home country after seeking help from Taiwan's representative office in Singapore.

The ministry urged those who wish to work overseas to search for positions through certified employment agencies only.

Before accepting the offer, jobseekers should also ask to ensure their position's actual duties are accurately reflected in the job description.

In case of an emergency, Taiwanese nationals can contact the foreign ministry through its hotline on +886-800-085-095.