The South African government has issued a warning to young women against falling for social media recruitment campaigns promising job opportunities abroad. This alert follows the viral spread of promotional videos by social media influencers showcasing job offers for young women in Russia.
One such video by influencer Cyan Boujee, which has since been removed from her account, presents a two-year 'start programme' designed for young women entering professional fields. Many young South Africans face unemployment, making these offers particularly enticing.
Boujee's video, filmed in Tatarstan, features claims of fair treatment for recruits, yet there are concerns regarding what professions these young women will undertake. Her massive following of 1.7 million on TikTok raises the stakes, as the government takes serious notice of the trend of influencers promoting off-shore job opportunities.
The government, represented by the head of public diplomacy Clayson Monyela, emphasized the dangers of unverified job offers, urging the youth, especially women, to exercise caution and seek second opinions on such offers. Instances have emerged where individuals recruited have allegedly found themselves working in factories associated with weapon production, posing questions about the validity of the recruitment promises.
Amidst this uncertainty, an investigation from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime hinted at misleading recruitment tactics, citing how potential candidates are drawn in by false representations of job roles and learning opportunities.
Authorities are concerned that these scams could ultimately lead to exploitation, with calls for the public to remain vigilant against attractive offers that may hide more sinister realities.
One such video by influencer Cyan Boujee, which has since been removed from her account, presents a two-year 'start programme' designed for young women entering professional fields. Many young South Africans face unemployment, making these offers particularly enticing.
Boujee's video, filmed in Tatarstan, features claims of fair treatment for recruits, yet there are concerns regarding what professions these young women will undertake. Her massive following of 1.7 million on TikTok raises the stakes, as the government takes serious notice of the trend of influencers promoting off-shore job opportunities.
The government, represented by the head of public diplomacy Clayson Monyela, emphasized the dangers of unverified job offers, urging the youth, especially women, to exercise caution and seek second opinions on such offers. Instances have emerged where individuals recruited have allegedly found themselves working in factories associated with weapon production, posing questions about the validity of the recruitment promises.
Amidst this uncertainty, an investigation from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime hinted at misleading recruitment tactics, citing how potential candidates are drawn in by false representations of job roles and learning opportunities.
Authorities are concerned that these scams could ultimately lead to exploitation, with calls for the public to remain vigilant against attractive offers that may hide more sinister realities.
