OSREC

There has been a massive increase in reports of overcharging by agents in countries where employers from countries like Canada, UK, USA and Australia are recruiting.

Often the employers appoint local agents to help them find suitable workers and unfortunately leave themselves and the applicants at the mercy of unscrupulous characters who treat the opportunity and faith shown in them as a get rich quick scheme.

All of the months of processing, waiting and money spent on immigration costs can go down the drain with the behaviour of those so called agents as they have no regard for anything but their own desires.  If a consulate finds that people are being overcharged they often refuse to issue visas and that's the end of the road for the employer and any applicants who have been waiting to go to the consulates.

So what can be done about this? 

Actually there is a lot an employer can do...

• Agree with the agent the maximum amount they can charge, and put it in writing
• Demand that applicants are given a receipt for any money paid
• Ask to see proof of any agreement the agent has with the applicant
• Ask for contact details of every applicant and call around to make sure they understand their maximum cost
• Watch out for non interviews, in other words if an agent is not providing a proper recruitmnent process, it is highly likely he is only there for the money, ask to see interview notes on each applicant!
• Insist that any applicant fees are always paid into a bank account and not in cash if applicants are being asked for immigration fees and only into a company bank account; this way you can be sure that applicants will have records of what has been paid
• Tell the agent that the applicant must keep reciepts of any bank deposits they have made and the names of the account holder
• If you have concerns about the above you can contact us at the Overseas Recruitment Assoiation for confidential advice. This is a major concern to us and we will be more than happy to help and advise you properly
• Finally, If you wish to change agents in the middle of the process, please contact us as we may well have the means to assist with the rest of the process with the current applicants, or can supply new applicants if neccessary, we would advise not to switch applicants unless you have no other choice, and we would be happy to assist any applicants to retrieve money back from agents in this situation. And failing, that helping applicants report the agent to local authorities.

If you are being contacted by an agent you are unsure of, or anyone claiming to be representing Osrec you can contact us at any time by email, fax or telephone.

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Tel: +371 7221277

Fax: +371 7221281

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