DMW shuts down recruitment firm

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) padlocked a recruitment agency in Makati City for recruiting overseas job seekers despite the cancellation of its license.

The DMW’s anti-illegal recruitment branch shut down the office of Azizzah International Manpower Services Inc., an agency whose license and accreditation were cancelled last June 15 for various infractions and complaints from job seekers.

“The DMW has zero tolerance for recruitment agencies operating outside the law, existing even when its licenses have been cancelled by the POEA,” DMW Secretary Susan Ople said, referring to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

She said agencies such as Azizzah were closed due to grave violations that involve the exploitation of workers.

“Zombie agencies are not allowed to operate under my watch,” she said.

Ople said despite the cancellation order, Azizzah continued to issue job orders for household service and skilled workers to Saudi Arabia as well as charge placement fees equivalent to one month’s salary from applicants.

The DMW then called on victims of illegal recruitment to connect directly with its anti-illegal recruitment branch through its Facebook account at https://www.facebook.com/airbranch or report such crimes via the DMW’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dmw.gov.ph.

Charges of violating Section 6 of Republic Act 8042, as amended by Republic Act 10022, defining illegal recruitment are being readied against the agency.