The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has shuttered two establishments in Manila for allegedly engaging in illegal recruitment activities targeting Filipinos seeking jobs in Poland.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac ordered the immediate closure of Reiven Air Travel Tours & Consultancy in Malate and its partner, the licensed Reliable Recruitment Corporation in Ermita, after investigations revealed both were involved in unauthorized recruitment operations.
Reiven Air, which holds no recruitment license from the DMW, was reportedly taking in applicants and collecting fees for supposed jobs in Poland. Reliable, while officially licensed, had no approved job orders for the positions being offered.
“Ang modus operandi po dito ay yung kabit system na ginawa ng travel consultancy sa isang licensed agency para makapag-alok ng trabaho. Ito po ay malinaw na illegal recruitment,” said DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia, who led the operation. He emphasized that using a tie-up to appear legitimate is a deceptive tactic.
Authorities said jobseekers were being promised roles such as fruit pickers, factory workers, truck drivers, and welders, with monthly salaries reaching up to Php 90,000. Victims were asked to pay a non-refundable processing fee of Php 70,000.
The DMW’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB), along with the Manila Police District, conducted the enforcement action, which also led to the arrest of several suspects linked to the illegal scheme.
Reiven employees even posed as representatives of World Bridge Recruitment Spolka Z.O.O., a Polish agency that also lacks authority to recruit Filipinos for overseas work.
With this latest crackdown, both firms will now be listed in the DMW’s roster of individuals with derogatory records, effectively banning them from future involvement in legal overseas recruitment. Reliable also faces possible license revocation.
This brings the total number of establishments closed by the DMW to 16 this year alone, as the agency intensifies efforts to protect OFWs and dismantle illicit recruitment networks.
