Fewer OFW deployments seen in 2008 - lawyer

MANILA, Philippines - An industry leader predicted a decline in the deployment of overseas Filipino workers this year as 180 recruitment agencies could cease operations after the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) refused to renew their licenses and permits.

Francisco de Guzman, an industry leader and labor lawyer, said he received a report from the Licensing Division of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) saying that the applications for the renewal of licenses of the 180 agencies have been frozen by the POEA due to recruitment violations, specifically the illegal or over exaction from workers.

The non-renewal of the licenses, according to De Guzman, has resulted in the delays in the deployment and processing of documents of OFW applicants.

“This development will certainly affect the deployment of OFWs in the coming months as these agencies will not be allowed to recruit, select and process thousands of job orders from various countries," he said.

De Guzman revealed that many of the agencies are already on their third and last extension to operate.

Early this year, about 150 recruitment firms suffered the same problem when then Labor Secretary Arturo Brion insisted zero cases for agencies renewing their licenses.

But Secretary Marianito Roque, Jr, who took Brion’s position after the latter was appointed to the Supreme Court, allowed the agencies to operate temporarily and process their workers in the pipeline.

During the time of then Secretary Jose Brilliantes, recruitment agencies were allowed to renew their licenses even if they have pending violations. They were given time to clear their case dockets.

However, it was learned that Roque wanted to strictly implement the zero cases rule to protect the interest of applicants. - GMANews.TV

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