Sanction vs maid recruiter for charging fees

MANILA, Philippines—A licensed recruitment agency faces possible cancellation of license after the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration initiated administrative proceedings against it for charging fees from departing domestic helpers, a violation of POEA rules on recruitment.

In a statement released to media outfits, POEA Administrator Jennifer Jardin-Manalili said Al Alamia International Manpower Services also faces charges for failure to deploy some 53 female applicants as domestic helpers in Kuwait.

The agency reportedly asked the workers to pay P8,000 for miscellaneous expenses and placement fees equivalent to two months’ salary to be paid through salary deduction.

Under the policy on the recruitment of Filipino household service workers, a recruitment agency is prohibited from charging placement fees from domestic helpers.

The Anti-illegal Recruitment Task Force under the Office of the Vice President rescued the workers through police operatives and in coordination with the non-government organization Visayan Forum. POEA’s Anti-illegal Recruitment Branch assisted the 53 workers in preparing their complaints.

The administrative case was docketed as “Maricel M. Ayao, Et al., v. Al Alamia International Manpower Services” in POEA Case RV 09-0601324. –INQUIRER.net