Recruitment agency using ‘spinoff’ firm in hot water with POEA

A recruitment agency found itself in hot water with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration after it was caught using a "spinoff" company to recruit Filipinos to work in Hong Kong as domestic helpers.

The POEA said it closed down the unlicensed company and is lodging charges against the licensed firm for "recruitment violations," POEA head Hans Leo Cacdac said Friday.

Closed by the POEA Anti-Illegal Recruitment Branch and Manila Police District was Helper-In Employment Center, with an office at Room 201 of the Ester Building at 1945 Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila.

Helper-In Employment Center was found recruiting domestic workers for Hong Kong and forwarding applicants’ papers to SBEE International Inc., a POEA-licensed agency, which would then process the applications.

Cacdac said six employees of Helper-In Employment Center now face illegal recruitment cases, and Helper-In Employment Center's officers and employees would be included in the POEA List of Persons with Derogatory Record.

Separate recruitment violation cases are being readied against SBEE International Inc., the POEA said. —Joel Locsin/KBK, GMA News