POEA cancels license of 3 firms recruiting domestic workers

Three recruitment agencies deploying household service workers had their licenses canceled by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration for failing to protect the workers' welfare.

POEA administrator Hans Leo Cacdac reminded recruitment agencies of their responsibility to protect their workers, lest they face stiff penalties.

In a post on the POEA's Facebook page, Cacdac identified the sanctioned agencies as:

- Crosswind International Manpower Services
- Asean Management and Technical Services Inc.
- Silver Horizon International Manpower Services

The cancellation of Crosswind International’s license stemmed from the complaints of OFWs Lorena Saligumba and Diana Lalaine Castillo.

Saligumba said a certain Lucille Olaire recruited her, supposedly to work as a food server in the United Arab Emirates, but she ended up working in Jordan as a domestic helper.

The POEA said Saligumba escaped her abusive employers by jumping out of a window.

For her part, Castillo said she was recruited to work as a cleaner in the UAE but she also ended up as a maid in Jordan, where she suffered maltreatment and physical abuse from her employer.

"Castillo and Lagumba admitted they left the Philippines with two plane tickets: Manila to Dubai and Dubai to Jordan," the POEA said.

Cacdac said an investigation showed Crosswind committed acts of misrepresentation and violated the policy on pre-departure orientation seminar (PDOS).

“PDOS is a mandatory requirement for newly-hired Filipino overseas workers. It is the more appropriate venue to inform our OFWs about their rights as a worker and human being. Without the PDOS, the worker is deprived of the chance to be guided on how to assert their rights as overseas workers, and to know the available mechanisms to redress violation of their rights,” he said.

Collecting placement fee

Cacdac said the POEA canceled the license of Asean Management and Technical Services Inc. after discovering that it had illegally collected placement fees, “charging or accepting directly or indirectly any amount greater than that specified in the schedule of allowable fees prescribed by the Secretary of Labor and Employment.”

The POEA said the allowable placement fee is equivalent to the worker’s salary for one month.

In the case of Asean Management, OFW Ricky Marcos said he applied as a driver with a monthly wage of $500 (P22,500) but the agency required him to pay P7,000 in addition to P18,300, which his employer deducted from his first salary.

POEA found Asean Management did not issue any receipt representing the amount it received from Marcos.

Cacdac also said Asean Management was liable for misrepresentation when it submitted to the POEA employment documents for "Painter Decorative" and not for a driver.

Silver horizon

Meanwhile, the POEA said Silver Horizon was found liable for misrepresentation, illegal exaction of placement fee, non-issuance of receipt, and unauthorized appointment of agents and employees.

The case stemmed from the complaint of Marivic Salazar, who said she applied as domestic helper with Silver Horizon and was charged P20,000 as placement fee plus an amount equivalent to her monthly pay.

"Silver Horizon did not give her any receipt for her P20,000 payment. She also paid P2,500 for visa fee," POEA said.

Investigation also showed Salazar's employment documents were processed as maintenance worker by another recruitment agency, Realworld Corporation.

"She was not able to leave the country, she was held at the airport because she presented a visit visa at the immigration counter," the POEA noted.

Cacdac said Silver Horizon violated the "no placement fee policy" for household service workers. — LBG, GMA News