Illegal recruitment of OFWs to Europe: Philippines job agency shut, blacklisted

Manila: Authorities here shut down a job consultancy firm for illegally sending Filipinos to work in factories in Europe.

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Undersecretary Bernard Olalia revealed that the firm had disguised the deployment of Filipino workers abroad as part of its “global migration training” service.

The Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB), an arm of DWM, worked with the Makati police to take action to padlock the office of BELMÜN Philippines Inc., located in Salcedo Village, Makati City, a suburb of the Philippine capital.

Authorities uncovered that the job consultancy firm had partnered with undisclosed agencies registered with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to facilitate the deployment of applicants to Poland.

An investigation was conducted by the Migrant Workers Office in Prague (MWO-Prague) alongside the MWPB.

Fees collected from applicants

DMW stated that applicants were required to pay a total fee of at least Php165,000 ($2,939) to process employment documents, visas, and referral to foreign partner agencies – but not including airfare.

Prospective overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were asked to pay an initial fee of 56,000 pesos (approximately $1,000) for the processing of work permits, with the remainder to be paid upon visa issuance, a process that could take up to a year.

DMW’s Olalia told the Philippine News Agency that the firm’s officers and staff would face charges of illegal recruitment committed by a syndicate, punishable by life imprisonment and fines from 2 million pesos ($35,631) to 5 million pesos ($89,000).

BELMUN staff will also be added to DMW's list of individuals and establishments with derogatory records. As a result, the agency will be blacklisted from participating in any government overseas recruitment programmes. This closure represents the third firm shut down by the DMW for illegal recruitment this 2023.