By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
As part of the government’s relentless crackdown against illegal recruiters, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) closed two establishments serving as fronts of illegal recruitment in Imus City, Cavite, on Wednesday, July 9.
The closure operation on the VMJ Beauty Salon and Jef & Eds Learning Center was led by DMW Assistant Secretary Jerome Alcantara, along with officials from the Imus City local government unit (LGU) and Imus Police Station.
Asec. Alcantara said, “Nandito tayo ngayon sa bisa ng kapangyarihan ng DMW, sa pamamagitan ng RA 11641 na nagbigay sa amin ng mandato at sa direktiba rin ng Pangulo Bongbong Marcos Jr. at Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac na paigtingin ang kampanya natin laban sa illegal recruitment at human trafficking.”
In earlier surveillance operations conducted by the Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) on the erring establishments, VMJ Salon was found to be charging the applicants P15,000 in exchange for hairstyling and spa training and referrals, then referring them to a recruitment agency so they could work in Saudi Arabia with a monthly salary of P35,000.
Meanwhile, Alcantara warned the illegal recruiters that the government would not stop its fight against businesses that are taking advantage of aspiring migrant workers, vowing to shutter their operations and hold those responsible for this devious scheme behind bars.
The owners of the two shuttered businesses face charges in violation of RA 8042, or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act. Furthermore, the DMW would also recommend the cancellation of their respective Certificates of Business Name Registration to the Imus LGU and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
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