DMW shuts down Manila manpower firm for alleged illegal recruitment

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Monday closed down a manpower agency in Manila for the alleged illegal recruitment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) under the guise of a government-to-government hiring scheme.

In a statement, the DMW said the closure was carried out by the Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) with the Manila Police District (MPD) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

The manpower agency allegedly operated without a valid DMW license and offered overseas jobs as hotel workers, production operators or packers, and cleaners in Taiwan, Canada, Finland, and New Zealand.

Applicants were reportedly promised monthly salaries of P170,000 to P210,000. They were also asked to pay as much as P260,000 for supposed documentation and visa processing fees.

DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said this exposed aspiring OFWs to possible financial exploitation and misuse of government hiring programs.

He said the group’s referral-based recruitment activities might even expand the number of potential victims.

Olalia clarified that legitimate government-to-government hiring programs do not require the participation of private agencies or third parties in the processing and deployment of OFWs.

This year, the DMW has shut down 11 establishments involved in alleged illegal recruitment activities as part of intensified enforcement against illegal recruiters.

The agency reminded aspiring OFWs to verify licensed recruitment agencies and approved job orders through the official DMW website before applying for overseas jobs.

Victims may seek assistance from the MWPB through email at mwpb@dmw.gov.ph, or hotline at (+63 2) 8721-0619 for legal assistance and support in the filing of cases. — JMA, GMA News