DMW closes Pampanga company illegally offering jobs in the US

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) shut down Friday what it said is an unlicensed firm in Mabalacat, Pampanga that is allegedly conducting illegal recruitment of aircraft mechanics to the United States.

In a statement to media, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac ordered the closure of Aerostrategies Inc. after the unlicensed firm was allegedly luring jobseekers for jobs in Texas with a monthly salary of $3,344 (P193,500).

According to a ''24 Oras'' report by JP Soriano, the victims of the recruitment agency said that they were made to take the offered jobs using a tourist visa or a B-1/B-2 visa instead of a working visa, and not provided with an Overseas Employment Contract (OEC) or pre-departure orientation seminars from the government.

The victims also discovered that, although having the same workload as their coworkers, they were paid less.

While the employers promised to process their working visas after their tourist visas expired, it did not happen and they were forced to return to the Philippines through their own means.

“Wala, naubusan ako eh so I need to do something for my family. So I grabbed it, which is maganda naman yung nasa kontrata… Yung bibigyan daw kami ng essential visa, which is hindi naman natupad,” said ''Jojo,'' who is one of the victims.

(I ran out of money so I need to do something for my family. So I grabbed it, since the contract seemed good… They said they would give us an essential visa, which didn’t happen.)

“Mayroon pa kaming mga kasama may mga babae pa sa Texas. Labinlima po, wala na sila trabaho… Pinaalis din,” added another victim.

(We still have female colleagues back in Texas. There are 15 of them, but they are now unemployed… They were fired.)

DMW said the recruitment agency was found to have committed several violations, including illegal recruitment, misrepresentation, and operating with a fraudulent business address.

“We will not allow illegal recruiters to take advantage of our overseas applicants. This firm deceived job seekers by misrepresenting itself as an aviation consultancy. We urge all job applicants to verify the legitimacy of recruitment agencies with the DMW before engaging in any overseas employment offers and fake promises,” said Cacdac.

“They were exploited. Pinadala sila doon on a tourist visa, under paid, and then, of course, inipit until sa point na pinangakuan sila ng work visa na hindi dumating. Napilitang umuwi dito, at dito sa Pilipinas pinag se-settle ng anuman ang claims nila. These are all badges of exploitation ng ating workers,” he added.

(They were being exploited. They were sent there on a tourist visa, underpaid, and then, of course, held back to the point that they were promised work visas that never came. They were forced to come home, and made to settle their claims here in the Philippines. These are all badges of exploitation of our workers.)

Meanwhile, the company’s key officers have been blacklisted from any overseas recruitment activities, while the DMW has recommended the cancellation of the company’s Mabalacat City business permit and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registration. 

“May badge of human trafficking ito dahil they are being exploited. (This had a badge of human trafficking because they are being exploited.) They are being sent there in the U.S. and made to work as aircraft technicians, aircraft mechanics under a tourist visa scheme or arrangement, which is clearly illegal,” Cacdac said.

In a statement, Aerostrategies Inc. denied the accusations and said that they were currently working with authorities to resolve issues regarding their right to operate.

“Aerostrategies strongly denies the recent allegations made by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). We wish to clarify that these claims are unsubstantiated and do not reflect the company’s operations or business practices,” the statement read.

“We are currently in the process of cooperating with the DMW and relevant authorities to resolve the matter swiftly and transparently… It is our priority to ensure that the rights of our employees and the integrity of our operations remain safeguarded,” it added. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF/VBL, GMA Integrated News