Husband and Wife Nabbed For Illegal Recruitment

DOLE Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III has directed the immediate prosecution of a couple caught in the act of illegal recruitment.

The CIDG Anti-Transnational Crime Unit, at the instance of the Anti-Illegal recruitment Operatives of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), arrested Stephanie M. Valdez and her spouse Jhoan "Khalil" Yuen, for recruiting overseas Filipino workers without the proper license from the POEA.

Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac reported to DOLE Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III the arrest of Valdez and Yuen, which resulted from the complaint of an applicant who said she was promised a job as household service worker in Qatar and was charged a placement fee of Php 65,000.00.

In an entrapment operation inside a supermarket in Quezon City, the joint operatives recovered from the couple the marked money the applicant supposedly paid to the recruiters as additional placement fee.

The applicant said Valdez initially asked her to pay Php 20,000 for processing her papers but she was able to pay Php 14,000 only.

Valdez allegedly directed her to proceed to an agency to sign an employment contract and for stamping of visa, and was asked to pay Php 35,000 for placement fee to Valdez' husband Khaleel Yuen.

Cacdac said the applicant decided not to push through with her application, and sought counsel from the POEA Legal Assistance Division, where she was told that she must pay a total of Php 65,000 placement fee, an amount higher than the amount previously agreed upon.

Under POEA rules and regulations, domestic workers shall only be recruited by POEA-licensed recruitment agencies, which are prohibited to charge any placement fees from domestic worker recruits or applicants.

In the case of the household worker victim of Valdez and Yuen, she was also told to declare that she only paid an amount equivalent to one month's salary as placement fee. Note that payment by a household worker of one month's placement fee is still illegal under POEA rules and regulations.

Recovered from the recruiters were two pieces of Php 500 bills used in the entrapment operations.

The recruiters were brought for Inquest Proceedings before the Department of Justice, for Illegal Recruitment punishable under R.A. No. 8042, as amended, and Swindling under the Revised Penal Code.

Secretary Bello ordered Administrator Cacdac to closely monitor the DOJ proceedings and the eventual criminal case that will be filed before a Regional Trial Court.

The respondents waived their rights under Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code to avail of Preliminary Investigation, and are detained in a detention facility. 

Source:  POEA News

To avoid illegal recruitment read this article: Advisory On How To Prevent Illegal Rercruitment  

POEA administrator hails signing of executive order on FOI

Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac yesterday said the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) welcomes the signing of the Executive Order on freedom of expression by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on July 24.

Cacdac said the FOI executive order will boost public accessibility to information and accountability in government offices, which will further strengthen efforts to serve and protect OFWs and their families.

Cacdac said with its existing ISO-certified systems and processes, the POEA aims for continuous improvement of OFW service delivery with greater transparency and integrity, and sustains its compliance with the requirements of the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA).

Cacdac said he has asked the POEA’s internal ISO Committee to start preparing the People’s Freedom to Information Manual as required of government agencies by the Executive Order.

The executive order covers all agencies under the executive branch, including government-owned and controlled corporations and state universities and colleges.

Under Section 15 of the said order, any employee or public officer who will fail to comply with the provisions of the EO may face administrative and disciplinary sanctions.

Source: POEA.gov.ph

POEA Warns Public of Spam Emails

POEA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac said the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration does not send mass e-mail and advised recipients of e-mails supposedly coming from his office to ignore them especially those that instruct clicking an attachment.

He said the POEA informs recruitment agencies about administrative actions or decisions on adjudication cases by means of sheriff or courier service but not through e-mail. Cacdac said recipients should treat such e-mails with caution, especially those with attachments.

“E-mail spammers commonly use attachments to sneak viruses into the victim’s computer. They even trick you to into sharing personal information like passwords or credit card numbers”, said Cacdac.

Cacdac said many recruitment agencies reported to him that they received e-mails purportedly coming from the POEA’s official e-mail address with ‘Notice of Suspension’, ‘Banned Agencies’, Suspension/Banned Notification’ and ‘Best Recruitment Agency for 2014’ as subjects. Cacdac said it was easy to detect the e-mail as fraudulent because the sender has no name and position title and the letter was poorly written.

source:  POEA

Recruiters of Factory Workers to Japan Face Illegal Recruitment Cases

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration is filing illegal recruitment cases against the owner and staff of an establishment found to have been recruiting  overseas Filipino workers without a valid license or authority from the government.

Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac identified the recruitment agency as Jomhadz International Corporation, and its alleged owner, a certain Joan Sigua.

Operatives of the POEA Anti-Illegal Recruitment Branch and Anti-Transnational Crime Unit (ATCU) of the CIDG closed down last week its main office located at 2nd Floor, Claveria Building, Circumferencial Road, Barangay Dalig, Antipolo City and its satellite office at 1660 Neptuno St., Paco, Manila.

The POEA officers have verified from applicants that Jomhadz International was recruiting Filipino workers for a wine factory in Japan and charges a placement fee of Php150,000.00.

The POEA prosecution team is preparing illegal recruitment charges against Sigua and her staff identified as Jefferson S. Flores, Charton Villanueva, Renalyn P. Cuevas, Renato V. Padilla, and Jason P. Cabus.

The CIDG-ATCU seized from the office employment documents of applicants, including passports, for inventory and as documentary evidence.

Cacdac advised applicants of Johmadz International to proceed to the POEA Anti-Illegal Recruitment Branch for filing of complaints against the recruiters.

source:  POEA News

POEA Cancels License Of Non-Stop Overseas Employment

Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac has ordered the cancellation of the license of NonStop Overseas Employment Corporation for submitting two different visas and after committing three counts of violation of the POEA regulation on misrepresentation. 

Cacdac said Non-Stop had requested for processing of a worker bound for Qatar with a visa as General Cleaner but after verification was found to be in the category of a Secretary. 

Non-Stop claimed that the real job order for the worker was for the position of secretary and it mistakenly submitted the visa for general cleaner. The agency tried to correct the supposed error and submitted a visa for a secretary. 

Upon further scrutiny, however, the POEA found out that except for the position titles, the two visas have the same issuance and validity dates, visa number, visa type, duration of residence, and other markings. 

Cacdac said Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz has instructed the POEA to prioritize resolution of recruitment violation cases involving household service workers (HSWs) and other low-salaried overseas Filipino workers. 

Section 2 (e) of Rule I, Part VI of the 2002 POEA Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Land-based Overseas Workers prohibits licensed recruitment agencies from engaging in acts of misrepresentation in connection with recruitment and placement of workers such as furnishing or publishing any false notice, information or document in relation to recruitment or employment of an OFW.

POEA Licensed Recruitment Agencies That Has Valid New Zealand Job Orders

Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac yesterday clarified that the POEA, in the absence of a government to government hiring agreement, is not directly recruiting workers for New Zealand.

Cacdac said interested workers may apply with the following licensed recruitment agencies which have existing jobs orders from employers in the said country:

• 21st Century Manpower Resources Inc.
• Adana Manpower Services Corporation
• Bison Management Corporation
• EDI Staffbuilders International Inc.
• Eligardi Enterprises
• FAASI International Corporation
• Filhigh-GNS Inc.
• Global Resource for Outsourced Workers, Inc.
• Greenfields International Manpower Services Inc.
• IEmploy Manpower Services Inc.
• JPS International Recruitment Agency
• JS Contractor Inc.
• Lau’ Mel International Entertainment Promotion Inc.
• Long Term Recruiting and Development Corporation
• Manumoti Manpower International Inc.
• Mission Way Manpower Services Inc.
• Mitac Overseas Manpower Corporation
• Omanfil International Manpower Development Corporation
• Orion Site Medlink (OSM) International Resourcing Inc.
• PARMAN Inc.
• PNI International Corporation
• Rise Manpower Services
• Staffhouse International Resources Corporation
• Sunergeos Manpower Services Corporation
• Uniplan Overseas Employment Inc.
• YWA Human Resource Corporation

Cacdac urged licensed recruitment agencies and registered principals or employers to abide by Philippine and New
Zealand laws and regulations on recruitment and employment.

Here iterated that the POEA Rules and Regulations prohibits Philippine recruiters from collecting placement fee from workers bound for “no placement fee countries” including New Zealand.

Cacdac said most openings are for carpenters,painters,plasterers,bricklayers,blocklayers,masons,electricians,welders, fabricators,plasterers and other construction workers.

Recruitment agencies and their respective job orders from New Zealand and other countries can be accessed at http://www.poea.gov.ph/cgi-bin/JobVacancies/jobsByCty.asp

source:  POEA

POEA Cancels Recruiter’s License Over Excessive Placement Fee

POEA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac has ordered the cancellation of license of Goodman International Manpower which was found to have collected exorbitant placement fee from an OFW who worked as a manicurist in Singapore.

The complainant against Goodman International alleged that an employee of the recruitment agency required her to pay Php40,000 as partial placement fee. She paid the amount from the proceeds of a Php147,000.00 loan she obtained from a lending company. The rest of the money went to Goodman’s counterpart agency in Singapore.

The worker further testified that Goodman did not issue her a receipt corresponding her payment and she was deployed to Singapore using a tourist visa. She resigned from her work after only three weeks.

Aside from cancellation of license for violation of the POEA rule on placement fee, Cacdac meted Goodman International the penalty of nine months suspension of license or a fine of Php450,000.00 each for collecting placement fee without issuing a receipt, misrepresentation, and deploying workers whose employment and travel documents were not processed by the POEA.

Cacdac also ordered the disqualification of the officers and directors of the agency from participating in the business of recruitment and placement of overseas Filipino workers.

For a list of licensed agency visit POEA website or 632 722 1144 - 632 722 1155

3 POEA Recruitment Agencies Suspended For Human Trafficking

POEA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac ordered the preventive suspension of Empleos Incorporated, Nahed International Manpower Services, and Ridzkey Human Resources International Services , which were found to have illegally deployed Filipino workers to Jordan using Dubai, United Arab Emirates as transit point. 

Cacdac said the three agencies used the same scheme of having the documents of the OFWs processed at the POEA for work in the UAE , but upon arrival in Dubai, the workers are transferred to planes bound for Jordan. 

Cacdac said the POEA motu propio filed administrative complaints against the three agencies after receiving memo s from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Jordan re quest ing assistance for immediate repatriation of OFWs deployed by the agencies. The workers ran away from their respective employers and are currently staying at the Filipino Workers Resource Center in Amman.

"The scheme employed by the respondents is a prima facie case of trafficking - in - persons considering the fact that the workers were officially processed for UAE but the y were deployed instead to employers in Jordan that are not accredited or registered with the POEA,"

Cacdac said in his order. The recruitment agencies also failed to immediately repatriate the affected workers even with persistent requests for repatriation from the POEA and the workers themselves. Cacdac said he issued the order of preventive suspension against the three agencies because there are reasonable grounds to believe that the ir continued operation will lead to further violation of POEA rules and regulations , and exploitation of applicants for overseas jobs . Cacdac also ordered the inclusion of the names of the respondents in the POEA list of agencies temporarily disqualified to recruit and deploy Filipino overseas workers pending investigation of the cases filed against them.

source:   POEA

POEA Padlocks Travel Agency For Illegal Recruitment Charge

Operatives of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and members of the Marikina City Police last week closed down a travel agency allegedly involved in the recruitment of Filipino workers for overseas jobs.

Deputy Administrator Amuerfina R. Reyes, POEA officer-in-charge, identified the travel office as Jamea and Angels Travel Consultancy Services located at 2nd floor, Tancy Building, Barangay Molino, Parang, Marikina City which is owned and operated by a certain Jamea Lawas Barreon.

The POEA operatives reported that they have gathered evidence that Ms. Barreon was recruiting OFWs for overseas jobs. The officers found passports and resume of applicants on the tables, and lists of job vacancies for Korea, Canada, Israel, Japan and New Zealand and framed photos of applicants “scheduled to depart” posted on the office walls.

Travel agencies are not allowed to recruit and deploy Filipino overseas workers.  Under Republic Act No. 8042, as amended by Republic Act No. 10022, any act of hiring Filipino workers when undertaken by one without license or authority from the POEA is considered illegal recruitment.

When interviewed, Barreon readily admitted that she was recruiting overseas workers with the help of a certain “Christian Benito” whom she alleged to be an employee of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Reyes said the POEA is preparing charges of illegal recruitment against Barreon and her office staff Julietta Balcruz Capistrano, and their names will be included in the POEA’s List of Persons with Derogatory Record.

source: POEA website

Immigration Staff Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For Illegal Recruitment

Two employees of an immigration consultancy firm were sentenced to life imprisonment for illegal recruitment in large scale by the Regional Trial Court of Baguio City.

In a Decision, Judge Rose Mary R. Molina-Alim of RTC Branch 3 Baguio City found the two accused, Rodolfo A. Domingo Jr. and Roliza S. Batag, guilty of engaging in the recruitment of overseas Filipino workers without the proper authorization from the POEA.

Domingo and Bantag were employees of Global Consultancy Management Services located at 117 Cresencia Village, Baguio City.

41 complainants, most of them from Baguio City, alleged that the two employees collected from them placement fees amounting to PhP35,000 up to PhP170,000 in consideration of the promised employment as domestic helpers for Canada; butchers, factory workers and civil engineers for Australia; and electronic technicians for South Korea with salaries ranging from PhP60,000 to
PhP130,000.

Under Republic Act No. 8042 as amended by Republic Act No. 10022, offering overseas employment in the guise of visa assistance without the necessary license or authority from the POEA constitutes illegal recruitment.

source:  POEA

Baldoz to DOLE regional directors: Fast-track release of livelihood budget to survivors of calamity

Secretary of Labor and Employment Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz  ordered all DOLE regional directors and program managers to fast-track the release of DOLE Integrated Livelihood Assistance Program (DILP) funds in order to enable survivors to earn decent incomes and quickly recover from the effects of the calamities.

“My instruction during our DOLE-wide planning exercise was to already roll out in the first month of 2014 the DILP funds given us by Congress, either for our regular programs or for rebuilding after Typhoon Yolanda. February is almost over, and March is coming, so I expect that our livelihood assistance to calamity survivors will already be making headway,” said Baldoz , as she expressed concern over the seemingly snail-paced move of program managers to implement programs, DOLE said in  statement.

Baldoz said the DOLE targets 100,000 emergency and livelihood program beneficiaries this 2014 under a regular budget of P609.8 million and 102,011 beneficiaries under Yolanda projects with a budget of P883.98 million for the full year. “We have targets to meet, or even surpass, so we better be prepared and be fast,” she said.

Baldoz, who is in Bohol as keynote speaker in the 2nd Visayas Regional Occupational Safety and Health Summit, said all DOLE regional directors have the responsibility–and are accountable to her–for the implementation of the DILP in convergence with the Departments of Agrarian Reform; Agriculture, Interior and Local Governments; Science and Technology; Environment and Natural Resources; Trade and Industry; Social Welfare and Development; local government units, and other partners.


Baldoz observed that the DOLE Regional Office No. 7 had only released in Bohol Province in January and February P1.159 million in livelihood grants to eight workers’ livelihood enterprises with total beneficiaries of 487 individuals.


In January, the regional office released a total of P425,000 in DILP grants to the Lila Fish Vendors’ Association in Lila, Bohol, for the fish vending activities of its 77 members–55 of whom are female, in the amount of P80,500; Bungahan Farmers Association in Antequera, Bohol, for the duck raising and balut processing business of its 85 farmer-members, 27 of whom are female, in the amount of P114,000; Barangay Livestock Aide, also in Antequera, Bohol, for the duck raising and balut processing business of its 40 members, five of whom are female, in the amount of P114,000; Casabut Organic Farming System in Barangays Cabawan, Agahay, San Roque, Aliguay, Busao, and Toril in Maribojoc, Bohol, for training-cum-production on chorizo and tocino; dress-making; and cassava chips making, of its 21 female members in the amount of P177,000.


At the summit, Baldoz, joined by Bohol Governor Edgar M. Chatto and Regional Director Chona Mantilla, released the amount of P732,152.40 for the livelihood enterprises of 285 individuals, detailed as follows: (1) P269,402 to the Gotozon Balsa Performers’ Association, Loboc, Bohol, whose 92 members are engaged in tourist entertainment. The amount is for rehabilitation of their floating raft destroyed by the Bohol earthquake.


Secretary Baldoz and Gov. Chatto also handed out a check of P118,400 to the Anda Senior Citizens Association, Poblacion, Anda, Bohol, for its 76 members’ goat-raising business; P106,500 to the Lundag Farmers Association, in Anda, Bohol, for its dairy goat-raising business. The association has 37 members, 33 males and four females; P100,000 to the Anda OFW Returnees and Beneficiaries Association for its malunggay kropek business, with 41 beneficiaries, 15 of whom are male and 26 are female; and P137,850 to the Baucan Norte Farmers Association, in  Balilihan, Bohol, for its dairy goat-raising enterprise. The association has 39 members, 25 of whom are male and 14 are female.(dole.gov.ph

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1781393668776#sthash.PvKn2r53.dpuf

OWWA Identifies 6 of 7 Filipinos Killed In The Yemen Attack

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) yesterday identified six of the seven overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were killed in the recent terrorists attack in Yemen.
OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon identified the six slain OFWs as Dr. Ruben Valenzuela, Hezel Pueblos, Edward Anthony de Guzman, Marivic Corilla Bandenas, Marian David and Aurora Gormate Yumul.

The victims’ families were already informed of the benefits accorded to them being documented workers in Yemen.

Dimzon also said that the families were also told that they are already working out on the repatriation of the victims’ remains but could not give further details on the exact date of the arrival because of the tight December booking.

Dimzon, however, did give any comment on the seventh female nurse victim who was also killed in the attack.

Dimzon said they are still coordinating with Yemen authorities to give them pertinent documents so that they could also inform the family of the victim.

The OWWA administrator added the agency has no record with them on the seventh victim neither with the Philippine Overseas Employment and Administration (POEA).

According to Dimzon, she admitted that out of 1,500 OFWs in Yemen, only 900 of them were documented and members of the agency. She said that together with the other agencies, they have already sent a team in Yemen to meet the OFWs who wanted a voluntary repatriation.

Read more @ http://www.tempo.com.ph/2013/12/6-of-7-ofws-killed-in-yemen-attack-identified/

10,000 OFW contracts in Taiwan not extended due to shooting incident - recruit consultant

More than 10,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Taiwan have returned to the country angry after their job contracts were not extended over the incident where members of the Philippine Coast Guard killed a Taiwanese fisherman off Batanes two months ago, a recruitment consultant said in a news release.

Most of the OFWs who returned from Taiwan have worked in the island for the past three years and were due for an extension for another three years, said Emmanuel Geslani.
“They return to join the four million unemployed Filipinos here,” Geslani said, calling these OFWs “collateral damage” in the diplomatic row between the two countries.

Soon after the incident, Taiwan has stopped the issuance of visas to all visiting Filipinos, including OFWs, effectively stopping the hiring or extending the employment of OFWs.

Most of the returning OFWs have contracts that expired these in the months of May and June.
In a related development, newly elected party-list Congressman Roy Seneres Sr. of the OFW Family Club party has asked the government to disclose the findings of the Department of Justice regarding the May 9 shooting that caused the rift between Taiwan and the Philippines.

DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima previously announced that the Philippine Coast Guard was at fault in the incident, providing no further details of the investigation that followed the shooting.

Taiwan has demanded for an official apology from the Philippine government, the prosecution of those involved in the shooting, compensation for the family of the victim, and fishing talks with the Philippines.

Source:  interaksyon.com

Baldoz warns OFWs against fake receipts

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz warned the public on Wednesday against groups or individuals issuing fake receipts in places frequented by overseas Filipino workers such as the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

The fake receipts were issued by some employees of manning agencies who reported the case to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, OWWA said.

Baldoz also instructed OWWA chief Carmelita Dimzon to publish notices and issue advisory to recruitment and manning agencies to put internal control mechanisms to prevent the illegal practice.

“The public should be well-advised on the matter for the safety of  overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Benefits may be compromised if the OFWs’ names are not registered as OWWA members. OWWA members are assured of the social and protection programs and services offered by the Agency,” Baldoz said.

For her part, Dimzon said OWWA is now coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation to help investigate all possible sources of fake documents and bring to court those responsible.

source:  Philstar

OFW Zapanta given 3-month reprieve — VP Binay

Vice President Jejomar Binay yesterday  announced that Joselito Zapanta, the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) scheduled for execution in Saudi Arabia, has been given a three-month reprieve by the Saudi government.

At a press conference at the Coconut Palace, Binay, the presidential adviser for OFW Concerns, said Saudi King Abdullah has given an order to defer the execution of all qizas or death penalty cases in the Arab country, including that of Zapanta.

He said this was confirmed by Adbulaziz Abdulrahman Al Gaeit, the Assistant of the Undersecretary for Public Rights of the Emir’s Office, who met with the Philippine Embassy officials in Riyadh.
Binay said Zapanta’s reprieve begins the day after the deadline set by the victim’s relatives for the payment of the blood money.

However, the Vice President clarified that the reprieve did not mean that the deadline set for Zapanta’s family to pay the blood money has also been extended.  “There is still no decision from the victim’s family on this matter. But this is to be given attention by our embassy in Riyadh,” he said.  Binay again thanked King Abdullah “for yet another humanitarian gesture.”

“His benevolence has given our kababayan a three month lease on life, and his family additional time to raise the blood money,” he said.  “We also wish to thank the Emir’s Office for their efforts in facilitating the amicable settlement and forgiveness, as well as the extension of the deadlines, allowing the maximum period for the settlement of the amount,” Binay added.

He also pointed to the work being done by the Philppine Ambassador to Saudi, Ambassador Tago and the entire officials and officers of in our Embassy, and the DFA headed by Secretary Albert del Rosario, in their efforts to help our countrymen abroad.”” he further said.

The Vice President also revealed that President  Aquino and Zapanta’s mother, Maymona, both wrote King Abdullan on March 9 to ask for his help.

Binay said Zapanta and his mother were able to talk on March 10, when the latter, accompanied by Philippine Embassy officials, visited her son in jail.

The Vice President reiterated his appeal for help to come up with the full amount needed to secure Zapanta’s freedom.

source: Tribune

POEA Suspend Al-Masiyah Overseas Placement Agency

POEA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac yesterday ordered the preventive suspension of the recruiters of a Filipino household worker who allegedly committed suicide five (5) days after she arrived in Abu Dhabi.

Administrator Cacdac said he ordered the suspension of Al-Masiya Overseas Placement Agency, Inc., and Al Madina Recruitment -- its counterpart agency in United Arab Emirates -- for their apparent oversight in monitoring the actual condition of Alona Mercado Bagayan prior to her death.

Cacdac said Bagayan was recruited by Al-Masiyah Overseas Placement to work as a household worker. She left the Philippines on January 30, and was turned over by Al Madina Recruitment to her employer on February 1. She was found dead on February 5, 2013.

Cacdac ordered the temporary suspension of Al-Masiya for engaging in the placement of workers in jobs harmful to public health, and its failure to report to the POEA the death of its deployed worker. Cacdac said the death of Bagayan could have been prevented if Al-Masiya complied with its duties and obligation as provided under the POEA rules.

“Under POEA regulations, agencies are obliged to monitor the situation of OFWs – especially household service workers – as soon as they arrive in their workplace,” Cacdac said.

The administrator said Al Madina Recruitment was suspended from further employing Filipino workers for defaulting on its contractual obligation to the worker, and for gross negligence leading to the death of the Bagayan.

"There is strong evidence indicating that the two (2) agencies committed serious violations relative to the recruitment and placement of the subject OFW, and also considering that Al-Masiya has nine (9) pending recruitment violation cases before the POEA, we believe that there are valid and justifiable grounds that the continued operation of the two (2) agencies would lead to further violations and exploitation of the workers being recruited," Cacdac said.

source:  POEA

Seafarers Deployed as Fishermen File Complaints Against Recruiter, Employer

Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac said 12 seafarers have recently sought the assistance of POEA’s anti-illegal recruitment branch in filing separate complaints against a manning agency and the owners of two fishing vessels in Taiwan for alleged contract substitution, misrepresentation, maltreatment, and charging bribe money from them.

In their complaint sheet, the seafarers claimed that from January to February 2012, they engaged the services of JMP Polaris Navigation, Inc. which recruits regular seafarers such as messmen, deck cadets and engine cadets with a monthly salary of USD250.00 to USD350.00.

The complainants alleged that the agency’s crewing and operation manager assured them of employment as seafarers in an international vessel but they have to pay the amount of PhP15,000.00 as lagay (bribe) and some miscellaneous fees.

Cacdac said there is total prohibition on charging any fee from seafarers. “Under POEA Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Seafarers, manning agencies are prohibited from charging or accepting directly or indirectly any amount of money, goods or services, or any fee or bond for any purpose from the seafarers,” Cacdac said.

Cacdac said the 12 complainants alleged they paid JMP Polaris Navigation, Inc. a total of PhP265,000.00.
The complainants stated that after submitting the required documents and signing their employment contracts, they left the country for Taiwan in separate dates from January to March 2012.

The seafarers alleged that before departure at the airport, an employee of JMP Polaris Navigation Inc. told them that the positions in their respective contracts would be substituted to “fisherman”. Nonetheless, the seafarers, boarded their plane bound for Taiwan to work in fishing vessels owned by Menh Hao Fishery, Co. Ltd and Jui Wun Fishery, Ltd.

The complainants said their employer maltreated them and made them work beyond the normal hours of work without pay. The seafarers also complained of poor accommodation, inadequate food and water, and lack of safety equipment and first-aid supplies.

They left their employers and came back to the Philippines in June 2012.  Cacdac said that on the basis of the sworn statements of the complainants, the POEA suspended the license of JMP Polaris navigation, Inc. and suspended Menh Hao fishery, Co. Ltd and Jui Wun Fishery, Ltd. from participating in the overseas employment program pending investigation of the case filed against them.

“We find strong prima facie evidence of a case for violation of the pertinent provisions of POEA Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Seafarers and there exists a reasonable ground to believe that the continued deployment of the respondent agency of workers to the respondent employer will lead to further violations of the Rules and exploitation of the job-seeking public’” Cacdac said in his order.  Cacdac reminded job applicants that licensed agencies are barred from engaging in any recruitment activities while under preventive suspension.

source: POEA.gov.ph

Philippine Workers Flee Syria's Embattled Towns

When violence in Syria escalated last year, the Philippine government ordered its citizens working there to return home, and more than 1,100 have. Reporter Simone Orendain met up with recent arrivals at Manila’s international airport to find out about their experiences.

The line of chattering women pushing luggage trolleys is greeted by the jarring sounds of a remodeling project at the arrival lobby. This group of household workers have fled months of fighting in Syria’s most embattled cities.

Marcami Abdul Hari worked for a family in Homs for nearly five years. The 21-year old says she stayed with the same family because they treated her like she was their daughter.

“They were good people. They were good to me, but I came home because in Syria it is so scary, as in really scary," she said. "Everyone, everyone, even the older people and children, they are being killed.”

On the streets of her neighborhood she saw people getting shot. Artillery razed her boss’s home and many others nearby.

Abdul Hari remembers the peaceful time before the conflict started.

“Syria was beautiful. Then we saw all that fighting," she said. "It was really nice because soldiers did not enter the city. There was nothing bad there. Life was just quiet and happy.”

When the violence escalated, Abdul Hari’s bosses packed up for Saudi Arabia. They took her to an agency for Filipino workers where she would get help to return home.

Not all workers are able to escape as easily. This week the government confirmed that one 23-year-old woman was killed by armed gangs while traveling on a road in Homs with her employer.

Marivic Pagbilao lived in Homs during the uprising, but her employer would not free her from her contract. One day, Pagbilao, 27, dodged a bullet while hanging laundry outside. She then decided to flee.

“I had given notice to my boss but he would not let me leave," she said. "[My friend] gave me the number to the embassy so I called and found a contact there that would help me. I left on my own from Homs. Two hours to Damascus from Homs.”

Another domestic worker in Homs, Rita Gonzaga, said the fighting made everyone in her household a virtual prisoner.

“All we ate were potatoes because you could not leave," she said. "The shooting was right downstairs. We were on the seventh floor and we could not even look out the window. One time we took a peek and a gun was pointed at us.”

Gonzaga says the family she worked for moved from Homs to Damascus, but even there the violence was too much. Gonzaga says her recruitment agency forced her to stay by threatening her with being blacklisted if she left.

“I went to the embassy and then really tried to convince my boss, begged her," she said. "Oh, I had just had enough!”

Gonzaga did not give details of how she finally got away. But those assisting the workers say running away is not uncommon.

Karen, a stress-debriefing counselor at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, who asked to be only identified by her first name, says many of the women flee physical abuse and situations where their salary is withheld, sometimes for years.

For these workers, Karen says the conflict can be a blessing in disguise.

“It is sort of like a blessing that because of the chaos their employers went abroad or went to other countries and they were left so they were able to go to the embassy and seek help," she said, "some of the cases were like that.”

Because many workers in Syria are on overstayed visas or working illegally, the Philippine government has struggled to locate them. Officials are urging relatives to come forward and help officials find stranded workers.

source:  Voice Of America News

OFW Remittances Up By 5.4%

Remittances from Filipinos overseas rose 5.4 percent year-on-year in January despite the global uncertainties, as demand for professional and skilled workers in traditional markets remain strong.
The Bangko Sentral said remittances coursed through banks reached $1.6 billion during the month, up from $1.48 billion a year ago.

The growth in January remittances, however, was slower than the 7.6-percent rise recorded in January 2011 and the 6.2-percent growth in December.

“Sustained demand for professional and skilled Filipino workers underpinned the steady flow of remittances,” said Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr.

There were concerns Europe’s debt woes and the sluggish growth of the US economy, two major markets for Filipino workers, might adversely affect the inflow of remittances.
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. economist Trinh Nguyen said the slowdown in remittance inflows was not a reason to panic.

“Overseas Filipino workers sent less money home in January due to challenging conditions in host countries. While remittance growth has decelerated recently, it is still robust, which would continue to be a major driver of private consumption in the Philippines,” said Nguyen.

source:  Manila Standard Today

POEA penalizes 11 recruitment agencies

For the first two months of 2012, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration has cancelled the license of ten recruitment agencies for charging excessive placement fees and issued a suspension order against an agency for recruiting without a valid job order and other recruitment violations.

Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said the imposition of penalties upon erring recruitment agencies is in line with his 7-point agenda that includes strengthened enforcement of anti- illegal recruitment laws and licensed recruitment regulations, and improved POEA adjudication record in case disposition.

Cacdac ordered the preventive suspension of Reajent Manpower Services after 40 jobseekers filed 9 recruitment violation cases against the agency.

The complainants alleged that Reajent Manpower Services promised them jobs in Australia either as fruit picker, fruit picker supervisor, cleaner, secretary, office staff or security guard, and required them to pay Php5,000.00 for processing fee and an amount equivalent of their supposed monthly salary as placement fee.

The applicants also claimed that the agency collected from each of them AUD250 for cash bond, Php3,500-Php6,000 for medical tests, Php850-Php950 for trade tests, Php2,600- Php4,500 for local training, and AUD250.00 for theoretical training.

The complainants said the recruitment agency failed to deploy them despite their payments and assurances by its officers and employees. Upon verification at the POEA, the complainants discovered that Reajent Manpower Services has no valid job orders for the promised employment in Australia.

Cacdac identified the other recruitment agencies which license was cancelled from January to February 2012 as: Tai-Fil Manpower Services Inc.; Lucky International Placement Services Inc.; 3R International Manpower Services; EMR Construction and Manpower Services; First Cosmopolitan Manpower and Promotion Services, Inc.; International Progress, Inc; Pearl of Panay Worldwide Manpower Services, Inc.; Roschazz UK Placement Consultancy; Worldgoal Corporation; and Sun Marino Shipping, Inc.

The complainant in the case of Lucky International claimed that she was charged PhP101,000.00 for her job as caretaker in Taiwan.

POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 6, issued in 2006, however, strictly prohibits Philippine recruitment agencies from collecting any placement fee from applicants for household service worker positions, including caregivers.

Cacdac ordered the cancellation of the license of Lucky International on January 24, 2012, and as a consequence, its officers and directors as of April 2007 were disqualified from engaging in the business of recruitment of Filipino workers for overseas jobs.

Lucky International and its surety company were also ordered to reimburse to the complainant the amount of PhP79,060.00 representing the amount illegally collected. In the employment contract, the applicant has the obligation to pay for pre-departure expenses amounting to PhP21,940.00.

The complainant against Tai-Fil Manpower Services Inc. collected from him in 2008, placement fee amounting to PhP100,000.000 for a job as a food processor, also in Taiwan.

Section 3 of Rule V, Part 2 of the POEA Rules and Regulations prescribes a placement fee ceiling equivalent to a hired worker’s one month salary. The prevailing salary in Taiwan in

2008 was NT$17,280.00, which is roughly equivalent to PhP23,000.00.

On January 24, 2012, Administrator Cacdac ordered Tai-Fil Manpower to pay a fine of PhP40,000.00, and to refund to the complainant the PhP77,000.00 excess of the placement fee collected by the recruitment agency. The officers and directors of Tai-Fil Manpower Services at the time of the commission of the offense were also barred from participating in the overseas employment program.

Cacdac said recruitment agencies with cancelled licenses are not allowed to engage in any activity related to recruitment of applicants for overseas jobs.

The POEA has cancelled a total of 566 licenses of recruitment agencies - consisting of 44 sea- based and 522 land-based agencies, since it was mandated to regulate the overseas employment program in the early 80s.

Cacdac reminded jobseekers to be extra cautious when applying for work overseas and report to POEA any observed irregularity.

"Always check the status of your recruitment agencies for your own protection by visiting our website,  www.poea.gov.ph or by calling POEA hotlines 722-1144 / 722-1155, and report those that are still recruiting despite the suspension or cancellation of their licenses," Cacdac said.

source: POEA.gov.ph