Language school closed for illegal recruitment

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has ordered the closure of a language learning center located in Barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City, for allegedly engaging in recruitment and placement activities without a license or authority from the department.

This center is the thirteenth to be shut down this year and the first in Cebu. At least 13 students were enrolled in the Lapu-Lapu City branch.

DMW Protection Bureau director Eric Dollete said the students were first required to pass necessary Japanese exams --specifically, the Japanese Language Proficiency Test and the Skilled Worker Test. Qualified graduates were then referred to licensed recruitment agencies based in Metro Manila.

Dollete said that they discovered the center through social media advertisements and conducted a thorough investigation using online surveillance, which confirmed the illegal recruitment activities.

He emphasized that illegal recruitment has now expanded to online platforms, prompting the DMW to intensify its online surveillance efforts.

Dollete also revealed that the center has two other branches in Malolos and Calumpit, Bulacan, which started operating in 2020, while the Cebu branch only opened in January this year.

He said that agencies reportedly recruit workers for various jobs in Japan such as farmers, factory workers, welders, hotel staff, and fruit pickers, with promised starting salaries ranging from ?50,000 to ?70,000, depending on the type of work.

According to Dollete, these activities clearly fall under the definition of “recruitment and placement” under Article 13(b), or are considered prohibited practices under Article 34 of the Labor Code.

Dollete further explained that the learning center misled students by promising them jobs in Japan, assuring them of employment through agency referrals and assistance with the application process.

He cited Section 6 of Republic Act 8042, also known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act, which prohibits promising employment abroad without a valid license.

Dollete stressed that even though it was a training center, it had no authority to recruit.

He said the center was involved in recruiting individuals under Japan’s Technical Intern Training Program (TITP), which is meant to provide employment-based training opportunities for foreign nationals in Japan.

He added that the center promised students job opportunities after completing the training program, assuring them that all they needed to do was enroll and complete training at the center.

Students reportedly paid at least ?15,000 for 150 hours of Japanese language training.

“That is clearly prohibited,” said Dollete.

He clarified that under the TITP, applicants are not supposed to pay for training. Instead, the costs should be covered by the supervising organizations or the employers.

Moreover, applicants should already be pre-qualified --meaning they have been selected by an employer, interviewed, and deemed eligible-- before being referred to a training center.

Dollete emphasized that even if a language training center is licensed, it does not have the authority to recruit workers. A separate license from the DMW is required for recruitment activities.

The DMW assured that they will provide financial assistance to those affected by the illegal processing fees and will assist them in filing the appropriate charges against the company.

“Gusto naming ipaalala sa ating kababayan na huwag po kayong magtiwala sa mga training centers na nangangako ng trabaho or nangangako na tutulungan kayong maka obtain ng trabaho na sasabihin nila tutulungan after makapag-training,” said Dollete.

Meanwhile, Kim Francisco of the Lapu-Lapu City Public Employment Service Office (PESO) encouraged residents seeking jobs abroad to coordinate with their office.

“Kay kining mga overseas recruitment agencies mga licensed sa DMW, so we make sure nga complete sila sa mga legal documents,” Francisco said.

He added that the PESO will coordinate with other learning centers in the city to monitor and prevent similar illegal recruitment activities. — /BRP (FREEMAN)