Plan ahead: The recruiter should plan visits with safety in mind. Knowing which labor camps or neighborhoods may be cause for concern or what apartment complexes should not be visited alone may keep the recruiter from entering a potentially dangerous situation.
Prepare for emergencies: Each MEP should have safety policies that are reviewed during the recruiter’s initial training. In addition, many MEPs find it useful to meet annually with local law enforcement officers to review personal safety strategies.
Be aware: The recruiter should always be alert to surroundings and be aware of his or her personal safety and security. Driving down a country road after dark, entering a building in a dangerous part of town, coming across threatening dogs guarding a farmhouse, or being female in a camp full of males are just a few situations the recruiter may encounter.
Use common sense: If a situation does not “feel” right, the recruiter should rethink the visit and return another time.
Safety is always the first priority of the MEP. No student enrollment opportunity is greater than a recruiter’s personal safety. If the recruiter is in a dangerous situation, he or she should leave and return another time with additional support (recruitment team or agricultural employer).
