The House of Representatives approves on second reading House Bill (HB) No.7718, which seeks to redefine the crime of illegal recruitment by a syndicate, particularly when committed by non-licensees or non-holders of authority.
House bill redefining illegal recruitment OK'd on 2nd reading
At a glance
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The House of Representatives has approved on second reading the measure seeking to redefine the crime of illegal recruitment by a syndicate, particularly when committed by non-licensees or non-holders of authority.
House Bill (HB) No.7718 amends the existing law by defining that the crime of illegal recruitment by a syndicate may now be committed by two persons who are non-licensees or non-holders of authority.
The measure was passed on second reading during plenary session Wednesday, May 10.
Presidential Decree (PD) No. 442 or the Labor Code of the Philippines and Republic Act (RA) No.8042 as amended or the Migrant Workers Act currently defines illegal recruitment committed by a syndicate if carried out by a group of three or more persons conspiring and confederating with one another.
However, it does not distinguish if the crime is committed by non-licensees or non-holders of authority.
Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo, chairman of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, welcomed this development in plenary. "We are another step closer to improving the safeguards that we provide our OFWs and further protecting their welfare," he said.
"With the current definition of the crime, non-licensees or non-holders of authority find a way to skirt the harsher penalties provided by the crime of illegal recruitment by syndicate," Salo noted.
"By lowering the number of perpetrators conspiring and confederating with one another to two for non-licensees or non-holders of authority, it will be easier to prosecute the crime and deter these malevolent entities from pursuing their illegal activities and take advantage of the plight of our OFWs," he explained.
Salo sponsored the bill in plenary just before its second reading passage. There were no objections or interpellations after his sponsorship.
"The situation of our OFWs are already difficult as it is. We must ensure that they are equipped with all the protection that our laws can offer and make it easier for them," the Kabayan solon concluded.