MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), with the support of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), has successfully closed down a travel agency in Pampanga that was illegally offering jobs in Bulgaria without the necessary recruitment license.
In a statement following the operation in Calulut, San Fernando, DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia revealed that the agency had been recruiting Filipinos for overseas jobs, particularly in Bulgaria, in exchange for exorbitant fees.
“Ang DMW, especially ang Department ng Migrant Workers Protection Bureau, ay narito po ngayon sa Calulut, San Fernando, Pampanga para i-implement ang isang closure order ng isang travel agency na nag-ha hire, nag-recruit at nagpapadala ng mga workers sa ibang bansa, particularly sa Bulgaria, na walang lisensya at in violation of all the lawful laws and rules ng DMW,” Olalia explained.
The agency, Yatra Travel and Tours, allegedly offered factory worker positions in the automobile and textile industries with promises of salaries ranging from PHP90,000 to PHP110,000 per month. However, applicants were charged processing fees between PHP400,000 to PHP500,000, and asked to pay a down payment of PHP50,000 for a slot reservation.
Olalia confirmed that an investigation revealed the agency had no legal authority to recruit or deploy workers abroad, prompting the DMW to issue a closure order. The investigation began after the DMW received a complaint and confirmed that Yatra Travel and Tours lacked a valid mayor’s permit, as validated by the local government unit (LGU).
The closure order was executed after the owner failed to appear, preventing the execution of a warrantless arrest. However, the DMW proceeded with the closure as directed by DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.
Olalia emphasized that while a travel agency may have a valid local business permit, it still requires a DMW license to engage in recruitment for overseas employment.
The DMW is coordinating with the Department of Justice for potential legal actions against the agency’s operators. If additional complaints surface, the agency could face large-scale illegal recruitment charges, a non-bailable offense punishable by life imprisonment.
Olalia reminded Filipinos seeking overseas employment to verify the legitimacy of recruitment agencies and ensure they are licensed by the DMW to avoid becoming victims of illegal recruitment schemes.