A job consultancy company based in Makati City was shut down by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for alleged involvement in illegally recruiting Filipino workers for factory jobs in Poland.

DMW Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary Bernard P. Olalia said the operation on Monday, Feb. 12, against Belmün with an office at the Salcedo Village in Makati City was based on surveillance operations which confirmed its alleged operations in sending Filipino job applicants to Poland. 

 “Disguised as ;Global Migration Training’, Belmün was actively recruiting and deploying workers without a valid DMW license," said Olalia.

“This is a serious offense committed by Belmün. We, at the DMW, will intensify our campaign against these unlicensed firms engaging in the recruitment and deployment of Filipino workers abroad,” he added.

Based on the DMW investigation, the company have been reportedly offering jobs to prospective applicants as factory workers in exchange for an “all-in payment” of at least P165,000 for “processing” the worker’s employment documents, work permit, visa, and referral to foreign partner agencies. 

Applicants are allegedly required to pay an initial fee of P56,000 for the processing of work permits with the remaining balance to be paid upon issuance of the work permit. 

“The waiting time for this ‘processing’ period could last for up to a year. Worse, applicants will have to shoulder the transportation costs going to their destination country,” said Olalia.

He said officers and personnel of Belmün face serious charges of illegal recruitment committed by a syndicate which is punishable by life imprisonment and fines ranging from P2 million to P5 million,.

“Also, the officers and personnel of Belmün will be included in the DMW ‘List of Persons and Establishments with Derogatory Record and shall be blacklisted from participating in the government’s overseas recruitment program,” said Oallia.