The Department of Labor and Employment suspended the license of two recruitment agencies now facing administrative and criminal charges for deploying minors as household service workers in Saudi Arabia.
Philippine Overseas Employment Administrator Bernard Olalia identified the agencies as LGH International Services for deploying a 17-year-old in Riyadh, and the Side International Manpower Inc., for deploying a 14-year old in Jeddah.
“These two agencies clearly violated the POEA rules and guidelines for engaging in illegal recruitment and human trafficking that put the security and welfare of two minors at risks and under exploitative practices,” Olalia said.
Apart from the cancelation of license, the two recruitment agencies will also be slapped with a fine ranging from P500,000 to P1 million.
Olalia added that the POEA is now closely coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs and with other concerned agencies for the investigation on the minor’s fake documents, including their fabricated passports.
“We are disclosing this information to make the public aware of the illegal practices of these agencies, especially those seeking employment overseas. Illegal recruitment and human trafficking have no place in overseas employment,” Olalia said.
Both minors were among the abused and maltreated OFWs who were repatriated earlier this week, and now reunited with their families and provided with necessary reintegration assistance by the government.