JobStreet Advocates for Fair Hiring to Eliminate Exploitative Recruitment Practices

JobStreet, a leading online job portal, is determined to eliminate unfair hiring practices and the exploitation of Filipino workers across the nation. Its parent company, SEEK, is committed to Fair Hiring, which seeks to end exploitative recruitment and modern slavery to improve working lives. This initiative is more critical than ever, as modern slavery continues to rise significantly.

The 2022 Trafficking in Person Report: Philippines by the US Department of State highlights the unique risks the Philippines faces. The local government recorded 1,802 victims, in which traffickers exploited 535 in sex trafficking, 501 in forced labor, and 766 in unspecified exploitations. Filipino workers are disproportionately at risk of falling victim to exploitative recruitment practices due to the export of approximately a quarter of workers to work overseas. The hidden nature of domestic work set within private spheres of employers’ households and the informality of arrangements typically practiced enable the exploitation of vulnerable OFWs and in some cases, forced labor and trafficking.

In response to the high volume of jobseekers, JobStreet has continued its ongoing endeavor to develop the platform to best meet the needs of those helping to be employed through well-suited career opportunities and valuable support, including the vetting of safe recruitment. JobStreet has taken one of its first steps to implement safer practices by hiring Scott Stiles as Special Advisor of Fair Hiring in Asia.

JobStreet aims to eliminate exploitative recruitment through its Fair Hiring Program. According to Stiles, “Recruitment is one of the high-risk activities that can lead to modern slavery, therefore the purpose of the Fair Hiring Program is to improve working lives by eliminating exploitative recruitment.”

JobStreet is one of the most trusted employment marketplaces within most markets, trusted by around 30,000 employers in the Philippines and more than 12 million candidates. The platform’s commitment to Fair Hiring is demonstrated through its dedicated online security team, which regularly surveys the site for evidence of suspicious job ads and advertisers so that they can be removed immediately. JobStreet continuously educates the workforce on spotting potential job scams and actively screens exploitative recruitment schemes.

Stiles believes that JobStreet can play a significant role in advancing Fair Hiring by connecting people to safe jobs, which is the best way to eliminate situations of forced labor and modern slavery. JobStreet has teams dedicated to ensuring it is the most trusted platform for candidates and hirers.

JobStreet’s vision is to connect businesses with talent and improve lives through better careers. By leveraging world-class products to match talented job seekers with reputable employers across South East Asia, both parties can expect efficient and safe matching on the platform. For safer recruitment opportunities in 2023, visit Jobstreet.