PAMPANGA — The Department of Migrant Workers has led the closure of a travel company in Pampanga it found to be illegally offering jobs in Bulgaria without a permit or authorization from the department.

By virtue of a closure order, personnel from the DMW shut down and padlocked the travel company located in Barangay Calulut in San Fernando City, Pampanga, on Thursday afternoon.

Authorities found that the company was involved in illegal recruitment, offering jobs in factory jobs in the automobile and textile industries of Bulgaria with salaries ranging from P90,000 to P100,000 a month.

Umano’y illegal recruitment agency sa Pampanga, ipinasara ng DMW 

However, applicants were required to pay a placement fee of P400,000 to P500,000 as a down payment, according to victims of the company who were intercepted by the Bureau of Immigration.

“'Yung inattempt po nilang mapaalis ay nadefer ng Bureau of Immigration. doon po nagkaroon tayo ng contact sa complainant at sa illegal recruitment activities po na ginagawa nila dito," said Atty. Eric Dollete, OIC of the Migrant Workers Protection Bureau.

This small office was where the reported recruiter operated, but it seems they caught wind of the authorities’ operation, as they have not returned to the site since this morning. 

“Vinalidate ng ating team ang nakita nating permit, pero ayon sa LGU, wala pang naiisyu na valid mayor’s permit. ayon po sa ating team, pangatlong lipat na nila ito at kanina pong umaga, nandito na ang ating team na inaabangan ang may-ari kasi meron po tayong sana na iimplement na entrapment proceedings,” said Migrant Workers Undersecretary Bernard Olalia.

This marks the second establishment closed by the DMW in Pampanga and the ninth across the country this year due to involvement in illegal recruitment.

"Recruitment permit or license yun ang Number 1 violation niya hindi siya otorisadong at lisensyado entity para magdeploy, mag-aya, maghire ng mga workers papunta sa abroad,” said Olalia.

The agency reminds the public to be vigilant when selecting recruitment agencies.

“Kapag po kayo ay inoferan at ang unang ginawa ay sinisingil kayo ng napakalaking halaga, tulad nito, P400,000-P500,000, wala pong ganoon. Kasi may limitasyon doon sa pagsisingil ng placement fee," he said.

Fancy job title but low-level work and pay? Recruitment expert warns against inflated titles 

"Kapag ang ibibigay sa inyo ay tourist visa, o ibang klaseng visa tulad ng business visa, hindi siya employment visa, ay mag-ingat na rin po kayo... kapag kayo po ay nakachat online at kayo ay pinagbabayad  online, isa rin pong indikasyon yun ng illegal recruitment.” 

The DMW is already coordinating with the Department of Justice to file charges of illegal recruitment against the operator of the aforementioned travel company. — Gracie Rutao