DMW: Over 40 illegal recruitment agencies shut down in 2023 so far By SHERYLIN UNTALAN,--- GMA Integrated News

Authorities have shut down more than 40 illegal recruitment agencies across the country so far this year, an official of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Tuesday. “Mahigit 40 ang naipasara natin ngayon lamang taon na ito, at daan na po 'yung sinampahan at tinulungan natin na mga kaso,” said DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia during a televised public briefing. (We have closed more than 40 agencies this year alone and we have filed and helped hundreds of cases.) “Tayo po ay aktibong tumutulong doon sa prostitusyon ng mga illegal recruitment at tumatayo tayong private prosecutor para po bigyan ng hustisya yung mga nabiktima ng illegal recruitment,” he added. (We are actively helping address the proliferation of illegal recruitment and we stand as private prosecutors in cases to give justice to the victims of illegal recruitment.) One-strike policy Olalia said after the agency imposed a one-strike policy against recruitment agencies of land-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that committed a violation, the number of cases filed against the agencies violating the policies increased. “Dahil dito marami pong nasasampolan, gayundin po sa tinatawag nating disiplinary actions against the employer. Maraming naisampa na kaso dahil po sa bagong rules na ito at sisiguraduhin po na mabibigyan ng karapat-dapat na disiplinary action yung mga ‘di sumusunod sa batas,” he said. (Because of this, many cases have been filed and disciplinary actions have been slapped against the employer. Many cases have been filed because of these new rules and we ensure that appropriate disciplinary action will be given to those who do not follow the law.) Confidential funds On Monday, Senator Raffy Tulfo proposed allocating confidential funds for the DMW to help it combat the illegal recruitment of OFWs. Olalia agreed that confidental funds would be of great help to the agency in going after illegal recruiters. "Hindi po namin hinihingi 'yang confidential funds na 'yan pero kung kami po ay susuportahan, gagamitin po namin ito sa tamang paraan. 'Yung programa natin laban sa mga illegal recruiter kinakailangan natin ng mga magigiting na mga otoridad at mga tao na kayang hingan ng tulong. ‘Yan po ay gagamitin natin upang masugpo yung mga illegal activities," he said. (We are not asking for those confidential funds, but if we are to be supported, we will use it in the right way. Our program against illegal recruiters needs brave authorities and people whom we can ask for help. We will use that to suppress illegal activities.) Meanwhile, since cases of illegal recruitment and human trafficking continue to persist, Olalia warned OFWs to stay vigilant and urged them to rely only on the agencies accredited by the DMW when applying for jobs abroad. “Sa mga OFWs na naghahanap ng trabaho abroad, kaya tayo nagbibiktima ng illegal recruitment kasi tayo po ay nagpapabaya. Huwag po tayong papatol kapag meron nanghihikayat sa inyo na trabaho sa abroad, na imbes na visa, bibigyan ka tourist visa. Matagal na po natin sinasabi na huwag po nating patulan 'yung too good to be true lalo na kapag may mga pangako na sa tingin ninyo kayo po ay mabibiktima ng isang illegal recruitment,” he said. (OFWs get victimized by illegal recruiters because of negligence. Beware when someone encourages you to work abroad, that instead of a visa, they will give you a tourist visa. We have been saying for a long time that we should be wary of offers that are too good to be true.) —KBK, GMA Integrated News