DMW shuts down Manila firm for alleged illegal recruitment

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Tuesday closed down a recruitment agency in Binondo, Manila for allegedly offering jobs in Japan, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia despite having no approved job orders.

In a statement, the DMW’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) carried out the closure of the manpower agency for allegedly recruiting overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) without a valid license.

MWPB director Eric Dollete said the agency allegedly enticed applicants through social media by advertising factory and production jobs with three-year contracts and monthly salaries ranging from P90,000 to P100,000.

Applicants were required to pay placement and processing fees of up to P72,500 through online payment channels, but were not deployed or processed for overseas employment.

Prior to the closure of the recruitment agency, its owner was arrested in an entrapment operation on March 25 together with her Russian fiancé and two armed bodyguards.

For 2026, the DMW has shut down eight firms allegedly involved in illegal recruitment.

The MWPB urged aspiring OFWs to verify licensed agencies and approved job orders through its official website, www.dmw.gov.ph before applying for overseas employment.

Victims of illegal recruitment may seek assistance from the MWPB through its Facebook page, email at mwpb@dmw.gov.ph, or its hotline at +63 2 8721-0619 for legal support in filing cases against illegal recruiters. — JMA, GMA News