POEA clamps down on erring recruitment agencies

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration is putting the pressure on erring recruitment agencies as it closed last Friday two recruitment agencies that continued to engage in the recruitment and placement of workers overseas after their respective licenses were revoked for malpractices.

Vice-President Jejomar Binay, as head of the Presidential Task Force on Anti-Illegal Recruitment (PTFAIR), joined POEA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac and his team that closed the offices of Northwest Placement Inc. and Reajent Manpower Services Inc.

"This enforcement effort of the POEA and the Office of the Vice-President underscores the importance of punishing recruitment violators and upholding the rule of law. And we will not rest." Cacdac said.

POEA issued the closure order against Northwest Placement Inc. in Manila when it discovered that the agency still recruits housekeepers for the United States of America even after its license was cancelled on April 25, 2012 for charging excessive fees from applicants.

Under POEA rules and regulations, an order of cancellation is immediately executory.

The POEA also padlocked the offices of Reajent Manpower Services Inc in Quezon City, which continued to accept applications for the position of fruit pickers for Australia that was found out to be non-existent. Reajent was under preventive suspension since February 28, 2012.