DMW shuts down recruitment agency that continued to operate despite canceled license

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Saturday shut down a recruitment agency in Makati City after it continued to recruit overseas job seekers despite the cancellation of its license.

In a statement, Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople said the agency's Anti-illegal Recruitment Branch (AIRB) padlocked the offices of Azizzah International Manpower Services, Inc., whose license and accreditation were canceled last June 15 following various infractions and complaints from job seekers.

"The DMW has zero tolerance for recruitment agencies operating outside the law, existing even when its licenses have been canceled by the POEA," Ople said.

Ople said agencies, including Azizzah, were closed due to grave violations that involved the exploitation of workers.

Ople said Azizzah continued to issue job orders for household service and skilled workers to Saudi Arabia, as well as charge placement fees equivalent to one month’s salary from applicants, despite its cancellation order.

The operation was conducted with Palanan, Makati City officials, and Southern Police District–National Capital Region Police Office (SPD-NCRPO) personnel.

GMA News Online had sought comment from Azizzah International Manpower Services but they had yet to respond as of posting time.

The DMW urged victims of illegal recruitment to contact the Anti-illegal Recruitment Branch through its Facebook (FB) account at https://www.facebook.com/airbranch, or report such crimes at https://www.facebook.com/dmw.gov.ph. — DVM, GMA News