DMW imposes one-strike policy vs recruitment agencies guilty of a violation

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Friday said it would now impose a one-strike policy against recruitment agencies of land-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that committed a violation.

At a press conference, DMW Secretary Susan Ople said that previously, a three-strike policy was implemented against erring recruitment agencies.

“Dati kasi dahil may first offense, second offense, third offense. Ang daling palusutan. Puwede kang magtago sa dami ng papel, sa dami ng proseso,” she said.

(In the past, there was a first, second, and third offense. Recruitment agencies could sneak past this. They'd hide things under paperwork and processes.)

“Ito kasi 20 very specific offenses na ang kapalit kapag ginawa ng agency, cancellation ng license. Mas klaro na kasi lahat kami iisa lang ang tinitignan na serious offenses,” she added.

(This time, we set 20 very specific offenses which, if violated, the agency will face cancellation of its license. It is clearer because we’re only looking at serious offenses.)

Ople made the statement after signing the department circular on DMW Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Land-based OFWs.

The new DMW rules imposed a simplified and standardized penalty structure for private recruitment agencies for offenses like involvement in corruption, illegal recruitment, and trafficking in persons.

Serious offenses would be penalized with license cancellation, less serious offenses with six months to a year of suspension, and light offenses with one to six months suspension.

Meanwhile, the new guidelines also extended the validity period of provisional licenses from two years to three years, while the validity of regular licenses from four years to six years.

The escrow deposit of recruitment agencies has been increased from P1 million to P1.5 million to expand their capability to cover claims of OFWs over employment contract violations, the DMW said.

One Person Corporations (OPC) are now also allowed to engage in overseas recruitment and employment.

Further, the new DMW rules shortened its process-cycle time from 15 days to seven to 10 days on onsite accreditation and verification in its Migrant Workers Offices (MWO) overseas. — DVM, GMA Integrated News