POEA closes 2 establishments for illegal recruitment


The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration recently shut down two separate
offices masquerading as placement agencies without the proper authority to recruit and
deploy overseas Filipino workers.
Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac identified the establishments as Firststep Consultancy and
Career Development located at 2nd Floor, Prince Jun Condominium, 42 Timog Avenue
corner Scout Tuazon Street, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City; and LJP Travel
Assistance Agency with office address at 1534 2nd Street near Main Street, Sta. Ana,
Manila.
“Our Anti-Illegal Recruitment Branch put the two companies under surveillance and
investigation after some of their victims reported to POEA their alleged recruitment
activities,” Cacdac said.
Disguised as job applicants, POEA operatives discovered that Firststep Consultancy was
recruiting chefs and cooks for New Zealand and Australia; electricians for Canada; and
landscapers for the United States of America.
After the interview, the POEA officers were referred to a clinic for medical tests which costs
Php3,800.00.
For the landscaper job in the US, Firstep Consultancy charges applicants the amount of
Php37,500.00 for reservation fee, Php10,000.00 as processing fee, US$250.00 for training,
interview, and US Embassy fee; and Php62,500.00 as “loan”. Applicants were advised to
pay the fees through Firsteps’ two bank accounts.
The POEA operatives reported that LJP Travel Assistance Agency has “job openings” for
farm workers in Palau.
The agency was not collecting placement fees but applicants were required to pay
Php6,500 allegedly to cover expenses for the release of the entry permit for Palau.
Under Republic Act No. 8042, as amended by Republic Act No. 10022, any act of hiring
Filipino workers when undertaken without license or authority from the POEA is considered
illegal recruitment.
Cacdac said all officers of Firststep Consultancy and Career Development and LJP Travel
Assistance Agency were included in the List of Persons and Establishments with
Derogatory Record, effectively disqualifying them from participation in the overseas
recruitment program of the government.
The POEA is preparing illegal recruitment cases to be filed against the owners and
employees of the two companies

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