DOLE on alert vs child traffickers

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Western Mindanao is now on alert as they are monitoring all entry points in the region to prevent recruitment and trafficking of young workers there.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the DOLE’s regional office in Western Mindanao has activated all the anti-illegal recruitment, as well as anti-trafficking and anti-child labor task forces in the region following the rescue of six young victims of human trafficking.

“The task forces are currently conducting surveillance in all piers, bus terminals and other entry and exit points in Western Mindanao,” Baldoz said.

Based on initial investigation, Baldoz said, the six young workers were recruited from Leyte to work in a canning factory in Zamboanga City.

She noted that the parents of the six workers filed a complaint before the DOLE office in Leyte prompting the Western Mindanao regional office to inspect Northwest Manpower Services and Aquatic Food Manufacturing Corp. where the young workers were eventually rescued.

“Our labor inspectors have verified and found out that the agent who recruited them is not licensed and the manpower agency that placed them to the canning factory is unregistered,” Baldoz said.

She already ordered the immediate closure and filing of appropriate charges against Northwest Manpower and Aquatic Food Manufacturing Corp. to pay the young workers their financial benefits.

The labor chief added that the various task forces in the region are now mapping out strategies to control illegal recruitment, human trafficking and child labor in Western Mindanao.

DOLE also warned employers in the region against engaging the services of unlicensed manpower agencies.

“Entering into a service contract agreement if the contractor is engaged in labor-only contracting is strictly prohibited,” DOLE said. –Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)