Question: What shall I do if the recruitment agency asked me to sign a different contract from the first contract I signed? Is this legal?
DOLE Answer: It depends. This is called contract substitution, which is legal if the terms and conditions of the new contract are superior to the first contract. Otherwise, if the new contract is less beneficial to you, that is illegal.
If the recruiter forces you to sign an inferior contract before you leave the country, be sure to get a copy and file a complaint at the POEA Anti-Illegal Recruitment Branch, or call the POEA Hotline at 722-1144 or 722-1155.
If this happens at the airport before your flight, immediately inform the Labor Assistance Center found in all international airports or any security personnel in the vicinity.
This is an excerpt from a handbook provided by the Department of Labor and Employment entitled, “Employment Guide to Students and Jobseekers.” The said handbook that contains useful information for Filipino job-hunters can be downloaded here:
DOLE’s “Employment Guide to Students and Jobseekers” :
Free Download
