BY DANIE MAE FAJARDO-DELA CRUZ
MANILA – Secretary Susan Ople of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) warned the public against travel consultancy companies promising jobs overseas.
“Illegal recruitment ‘yan,” said Ople.
She urged victims of illegal recruitment schemes to report their cases to the Anti-Illegal Recruitment Branch (AIRB) of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration either through its Facebook page; its email (airbranch@dmw.gov.ph); or its hotline number (+63287210619).
“Please do not transact with travel consultancy firms offering jobs abroad. May naghihintay na one-way ticket sa kulungan ang mga nagpapatakbo ng ganyan,” said Ople.
Just this Dec. 7, DMW padlocked a travel consultancy firm offering bogus jobs in Poland and charging as much as P122,000 from applicants.
According to Ople, IDPLumen Travel Consultancy Services’ headquarters in San Fernando, Pampanga and its offices in Santiago City, Isabela and Tabuk City, Kalinga were simultaneous closed.
The closure was carried out by POEA’s AIRB.
Ople said IDPLumen Travel Consultancy Services did not have a license from the POEA to operate as a recruitment agency nor did it have validated overseas job orders.
Prior to the company’s closure, it was placed under surveillance.
AIRB found out that IDPLumen peddled jobs in Poland for truck drivers, welders, and factory workers, and offered applicants two options to pay – “fly now, pay later” and regular upfront payment.
Ople ordered the filing of illegal recruitment charges against IDPLumen. She also urged victims to contact the DMW so they may be assisted in the filing of complaints./PN
