THE DEPARTMENT of Migrant Workers (DMW) Davao urged Davaoeños seeking jobs overseas to be alert on illegal recruiters.
DMW Davao issued a notice to the public through its Facebook post on March 8 after concerns were raised on the legitimacy of recruitment agencies hiring seasonal workers to Korea.
The department recently reported to the National Bureau of Investigation XI about an alleged illegal recruitment agency in the city, leading to a criminal investigation of three recruiters in Toril on March 2.
“Massive ramping for talents for Japan. I need 50 ladies ages 21-32 who can sing and dance,” the Facebook post of netizen Lea Bernardino Rivero reads. Rivero was one of the three reported illegal recruiters.
Angela Librado Trinidad, DMW Davao regional director, said they were neither licensed nor authorized to recruit and the agency they represent is not a licensed Philippine recruitment agency.
“As such, the DMW-XI shall strengthen its partnership with the local government units, including the barangays to prevent illegal recruiters and traffickers from victimizing our OFWs and their families,” Trinidad said.
Davaoños are advised to deal only with licensed recruitment agencies listed on dmw.gov.ph/licensed-recruitment-agencies and approved job orders in dmw.gov.ph/approved-job-orders on their official website.
Recruitment agencies not found on the list are hereby not registered, not legitimate, and are not authorized to any act of recruitment.
The department called the public to report any suspicious illegal recruitment schemes to airtipinfo@dmw.gov.ph, davao@dmw.gov.ph, and DMW-Davao Region FB page.
Illegal recruiters who will be caught offering fictitious overseas jobs to Filipino workers shall be subject to a fine of P2 million- P5 million and life imprisonment.
