The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced on Saturday that it had successfully shut down six illegal recruitment agencies in 2023, with most of these closures occurring towards the end of the year. This move is part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to combat illegal recruitment activities.
DMW officer-in-charge, Atty. Hans Leo Cacdac, revealed in a Dobol B TV interview that they had closed down four agencies in the last four months of 2023, bringing the total to six for the year. Since the tenure of late Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople, who assumed office in July 2022, a total of 14 agencies have been shuttered by the DMW.
Cacdac emphasized the agency’s determination to eradicate illegal recruitment, citing a recent closure in Quezon City as an example of their commitment. This particular travel agency was ordered to cease operations due to alleged illegal recruitment activities.
According to complaints filed by several applicants, the agency, known as Legal Connect Travel Consultancy, was charging fees ranging from P200,000 to P380,000 for job placements in Italy and Malta. Cacdac noted that feigning ignorance of the law would not absolve those engaged in such activities, stating, “Ignorance of the law excuses no one,” as per legal provisions.
In a separate development, Cacdac revealed that the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Hospital in Pampanga currently has nearly 200 job openings. The DMW had previously committed to enhancing the hospital’s facilities and staffing following criticism from Senator Raffy Tulfo regarding its service quality.