GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) – The Department of Migrant Workers in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region is actively monitoring overseas employment agencies to ensure the welfare of Filipinos working abroad.
“Itong mga agencies, bago sila mabigyan ng lisensya, ay dumadaan sa masusing evaluation kung sila ba ay dapat talagang bigyan ng lisensya,” DMW Regional Director Maria Carolina B. Agdamag stated during the 15th episode of the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas in General Santos City on Sept. 3.
(Before granting a license, these agencies undergo a thorough evaluation to determine if they truly deserve the license.)
Close monitoring of these agencies continues after they are granted licenses, Agdamag pointed out.
“Kapag mayroon na silang lisensya (if they already have a license) to operate as a recruitment agency, we monitor them through inspection kung ano ang performance nila (what their performance is like),” she said.
She added that “they are required to submit to us monthly reports, terminal reports, and deployment reports.”
“Kailangan natin ito para makita na itong mga agency ay talagang nakakapagpabas talaga ng workers sa ibang bansa,” the official explained.
(We do this to verify whether these agencies are truly capable of sending workers to other countries.)
According to DMW SOCCSKSARGEN’s data, there are 123 agencies in the region that are recruiting employees for out-of-country deployments.
Agdamag recommends applicants refer agencies to the nearest DMW office for license confirmation and overseas employment recruitment, or check their status on the dmw.gov.ph website.
She explained that DMW’s website allows applicants to check a recruitment agency’s license status, expiry, cancellation, or suspension, and show any remaining vacancies in its approved job order.
Agdamag also urged those seeking overseas jobs to be wary of illegal recruiters by following DMW’s #ApatDapat principles, namely: 1) Dapat mag-apply lamang sa licensed recruitment agency; 2) Dapat siguraduhing approved ang job order ng recruitment agency; 3) Dapat personal na makipag-transaksyon sa registered address ng recruitment agency; and 4) Dapat humingi ng resibo kapalit ng bayad at dokumento.
“Kung lalabas man ang agency sa tanggapan nila, mayroon tayong binibigay na special recruitment authority,” Agdamag said, emphasizing further that an agency can only conduct recruitment on the venue and date specified in the authority given.
(If the agency leaves the office, we provide them with a special recruitment authority.)
“Kung magbabayad, siguraduhin na may resibo. Pero bago magbayad dapat hired na sila at may kontrata na (When paying, make sure to get a receipt. They should be hired and have a contract before paying),” she further underscored. (DED – PIA Region 12)
