By Alec Go
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) shut down on Friday, June 2, a travel consultancy agency in Quezon City that is not listed as a licensed recruitment agency but is offering jobs in Malta and Poland.
According to the DMW, the closure operation on OVM Visa Assistance and Travel Consultancy stemmed from a complaint filed by a job applicant who sought help from DMW’s Migrant Workers’ Protection Bureau.
OVM allegedly offered jobs for kitchen helpers, housekeepers, waiters, and waitresses.
The DMW said jobseekers were also required to submit their passport and biodata, a P420,000 processing fee and a P60,000 deployment, and an additional P100,000 once the permit is issued.
Applicants were also told to wait for six to seven months before deployment.
OVM owner Vilma Rosario is now facing illegal recruitment charges.
The DMW also recommended the suspension of the agency’s business permit by the Quezon City local government, and the cancellation of its Certificate of Business Name Registration by the Department of Trade and Industry.
DMW Secretary Susan Ople reminded individuals looking for jobs overseas to deal only with legitimate recruitment agencies.
She also called on the public to report to travel or consultancy agencies recruiting workers for overseas works, saying that this is against the anti-illegal recruitment law.
Illegal recruitment victims may report to Hotline: +63 2 8722-1192 or through https://www.facebook.com/airbranch for DMW assistance.
