DMW closes down alleged illegal recruitment firm in Makati

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) closed down on Tuesday an immigration consultancy firm in Makati City over its alleged illegal recruitment operations.

DMW Secretary Susan Ople and the Makati City police went to the consultancy firm in San Lorenzo to personally issue the closure order.

“[Ito ay] example ng consultation agency na nagpapanggap na recruitment agency,” Ople told reporters in an ambush interview.

(This is an example of a consultation agency that poses as a recruitment firm.)

“‘Di siya lisensyado ng POEA [Philippine Overseas Employment Administration], naninigil siya, nangongolekta ng resumes ng mga workers. Nagpapaasa [sa] mga worker na makapag-work sila sa abroad pero alam naman natin na ang pwede lang magpa-alis ng mga workers natin ay mga lehitimong recruitment firms,” she said.

(It is not licensed by the POEA but it will charge fees, and collect resumés. It gives empty promises to workers that they can get jobs abroad but we know that the only ones who can send our employees abroad are the legitimate recruitment agencies.)

According to Ople, the foreclosed firm was reportedly offering jobs for Filipino workers in various countries including South Korea and Canada in exchange for placement fees ranging from P80,000 to P200,000 per applicant.

Ople said she was informed by such scheme by the Philippine labor attaché to South Korea.

“Kung titingnan niyo napakaganda kasi corporate ang look niya eh. Pero kung ang singil ay P80,000 to P200,000, kada biktima ng illegal recruitment, they can really afford the sophisticated websites, social media platforms. They can invest in that,” she said. “So if it’s too good to be true, then it’s probably and usually not true. Mag-ingat na lang po”. (Let us be careful.)

(At one look, the company seems good because it has a very corporate look. But they charge P80,00 to P20,000 per victim so they can really afford sophisticated websites and social media platforms. They can invest in that.)

Ople reiterated the government will impose a “zero-tolerance” to all illegal recruitment firms, adding they will keep a close watch on the prosecution and conviction of the officials behind the Makati-based firm to ensure it will not operate again.

The Makati-based firm is the fourth illegal recruitment agency that has been ordered closed by the DMW. — RSJ, GMA News