DMW SHUTS DOWN RECRUIMENT OFFICE IN QC OFFERING FAKE JOBS IN MALTA, ITALY

THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Tuesday padlocked the branch of a Dubai-based consultancy services office in Quezon City offering bogus jobs in Malta and Italy.

DMW Officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac led the closure of the Legal Connect Travel Consultancy office or the Legal Connect Travel Services in Bgy. Veterans in Quezon City.

Cacdac was assisted by the Philippine National Police and the Office of Sen. Raffy Tulfo.

Prior to the closure, Cacdac said his office conducted surveillance operations for one and a half months to confirm the veracity of the three complaints they received.

According to the complainants, they made an initial payment of P85,000 each to the travel agency.

“Recruitment for Italy, agricultural workers at caregivers daw, at merong halagang tinataga sa mga aplikante na humigit kumulang P250,000 to PHP380,000. Meron din para sa Malta daw, mga hotel workers at ang tinataga naman P200,000 to P250,000,” ani Cacdac.

The DMW official said they will file a case with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the said recruitment office.

Cacdac said illegal recruitment with three or more victims is already considered a large-scale syndicate which is punishable with life imprisonment.

“Sa surveillance natukoy ang mga empleyadong nagsasagawa ng illegal recruitment, at sila ay isasama, idadawit natin sa kaso kasama na ‘yung may-ari ,” he added.

Cacdac said they will help the victims of the illegal recruitment recover the amount paid to the illegal recruiters.

He said the DMW will also assist the victims who want to apply again for jobs abroad.

Cacdac added that they will coordinate with United Arab Emirates officials to probe Legal Connect’s other activities in Dubai.