Government to regulate recruitment agencies
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (3 October) -- Officials of the Commission on Filipino Oversas (CFO) said they have plans to regulate recruitment agencies in the country to prevent the operation of unscrupulous agencies preying on Filipinos who are interested to go abroad.
Jan Dominic Ramos, CFO information officer admitted that there is no regulating arm of the government with regard to the existence of consultancy or recruitment agencies offering their services in helping Filipinos to go abroad.
The absence of a regulatory agency, Ramos said left many Filipinos who became victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment in the country.
"But we are already recognizing this as a root of illegal recruitment and human trafficking cases that is why we have planned to create a regulating body for migration purposes overseas under our rationalization plan," he said during a radio program with the Philippine Information Agency at DWRV radio station here.
CFO, along with representatives of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) was in the province last week to conduct information campaign on migrant Filipinos and illegal recruitment prevention and education.
Ramos urged the public to be always vigilant on the existence of suspicious recruitment agencies in their localities and closely refer to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for assistance.
Lawyer Ferdinand Merrera, POEA legal officer for Luzon also warned applicants for work abroad.
He said even legal recruitment agencies violate regulations such as when an agency goes out of his jurisdiction to recruit, overcharging of fees which covers the payment of above the one month salary of an OFW, intervention with government to government hiring scheme which only allows POEA to implement hiring among others. (PIA NVizcaya) [top]
