TO ALL JOB APPLICANTS SEEKING WORK IN NEW ZEALAND:

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) has been receiving email queries from Filipinos looking for work in New Zealand, asking POLO to confirm the legal status of alleged recruiters which they connected with through Facebook, namely: WorkHere NZ and Nestlé Water.

POLO has taken a number of appropriate steps to check and validate the legitimacy of the above-named entities through the following sources:

• POLO’s record of POEA-accredited NZ employers;
• POEA Database (www.poea.gov.ph); and
• The New Zealand Companies Register website (https://companies-register.companiesoffice.gov.nz).

Based on the result of its investigation, POLO issues this notice to all concerned that both WorkHere NZ and Nestlé Water are either unregistered or altogether non-existent entities, for purposes of POLO New Zealand’s verification of worker’s employment agreement.

Furthermore, save for limited exemptions, POLO does not encourage direct-hire recruitment, and only unless this is done through duly POEA- licensed Philippine Recruitment Agencies.

Apart from the above, it is important to note that in view of the COVID-19 global pandemic, New Zealand currently maintains tight border restrictions on the entry of any person from overseas, except its own citizens and residents.

Be vigilant and keep safe.