DMW shuts down firm for alleged illegal recruitment

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is set to forward a case to the Department of Justice for prosecution under Republic Act 8042 against an immigration consultancy firm for the alleged illegal recruitment of OFWs to Canada since 2021.

The firm's operations were personally investigated by DMW chief Hans Leo Cacdac, who on Thursday was also named ad interim Secretary, after being designated officer in charge

At the Dream Pathway office, located in Mandaluyong City, Cacdac personally caught the owner and staff in their office. Despite numerous licenses displayed on its walls, none were issued by the DMW, which is crucial for legal operation.

The owner did not give a statement to the media, but reportedly defended their actions to Cacdac, claiming they focus on the permanent residency track and not on OFWs.

However, Cacdac emphasized that this is beside the point, as their primary function should be visa consultancy if dealing with permanent residents.

“Ang depensa nila, permanent residency track sila. Hindi OFW ang mga kliyente nila. Kung permanent resident, e di dapat ang trabaho nila ay visa consultancy lang. Eight times surveillance operation talagang nag-o-offer ng trabaho, nag-i-interview, nagja-job matching with an employer. Humihingi ng P110,000 professional fee so ayon din sa batas natin at sa batas ng Canada bawal ang pag-charge ng placement fee,” said Cacdac.

(Their defense is that they focus on the permanent residency track, and that OFWs are not their clients. But if that is so, then their job should only be visa consultancy. Eight times the surveillance operation [showed them] offering jobs, interviewing, and job matching with employers. They would ask for a P110,000 professional fee, and our laws and the laws of Canada do not allow the charging of placement fees.) 

Consequently, the office was sealed and issued a closure order. Three branch offices—in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija; Lipa, Batangas; and Apalit, Pampanga, allegedly run by the owner's friends in Mandaluyong—were also shut down.

While no victims have come forward, the DMW is still investigating the extent of the firm's fraudulent activities. They discovered the firm through social media in January, where many illegal recruiters prey on Filipinos seeking work abroad.

According to DMW Migrant Workers Protection Bureau Director Geraldine Mendez, this year alone the DMW, in coordination with Facebook, took down 10,108 illegal recruitment posts, and 4,863 from TikTok, highlighting the rampant illegal recruitment activities on social media.

If proven guilty, the officials and staff of the firm will be included in the DMW’s “List of Persons and Establishments with Derogatory Record” and will permanently be denied participation in the government’s overseas recruitment program.

The DMW will assist victims and those already sent abroad legally to stay there. They will also attempt to recover any fees paid through the department's Action Fund.

Cacdac warned OFWs about the dangers of illegal recruitment, emphasizing that jobs could be fake, and that victims could lose a significant amount of money. He advised OFWs to use licensed recruitment agencies for their safety.

According to Cacdac, there are signs OFWs should look out for to know if they are already transacting with illegal recruiters.

“Yung hindi mo nakikita yung nagre-recruit sa iyo, naniningil ng pera off the bat and the most basic of all, given na, kailangan may lisensya from the DMW,” he said.

(If you are not able to see who's recruiting you, if they're asking for money off the bat, and, most basic of all, they need to have a license from the DMW.)

“Please avail of the services of a licensed recruitment agency to help you out,” Cacdac added. — BM, GMA Integrated News