On February 7, the Department of Migrant Workers in Central Visayas (DMW-7) halted a recruitment activity held in Cebu City after they found out that it lacked the necessary permits.The recruitment drew hundreds of teacher-applicants coming from the Visayas and Mindanao, who were enticed with teaching posts in Alaska, USA | Photo from DMW-7
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Regulators shut down a recruitment activity here that enticed teachers for greener pastures in Alaska in the United States.
The Department of Migrant Workers in Central Visayas (DMW-7) reported intervening in a teaching recruitment held in a hotel last February 6 after they found out it lacked proper permits.
The agency, in a press release, said hundreds of teacher-applicants coming from the Visayas and Mindanao gathered for the activity, hoping to secure teaching posts in Alaska in the United States.
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DMW-7 did not diclose the name of the group organizing the recruitment event.
However, Migrant officials determined that the recruitment activity was being conducted without proper authorization.
No LOA
Maria Eloida Cantona, the DMW-7 director, along with personnel from the Migrant Workers Protection Division, personally intervened at the venue and ordered the activity to stop.
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“Those facilitating the screening and interviews failed to present their Letter of Authority (LOA), so we asked them to stop,” Cantona said.
The LOA, issued by the DMW, is required for accredited foreign principals or their representatives to conduct recruitment outside the registered business address of a licensed recruitment agency.
Unauthorized recruitment
In this case, school principals and superintendents conducted interviews directly, without the presence of a licensed recruitment agency to accredit them.
To address the issue, Cantona led a meeting at the venue to outline the proper hiring procedures and documentary requirements needed for legitimate overseas employment.
“We caution the public to be vigilant against unauthorized recruitment activities that may appear legitimate,” Cantona said.
“Always verify if you are engaging with a licensed recruitment agency and check if job orders are posted on the DMW website,” she added.
The DMW-7 is also urging the public to report suspicious recruitment activities in Central Visayas to their regional office for immediate action.
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