Deployment of over 10,000 OFWs delayed

MANILA, Philippines – Over 10,000 Filipino workers cannot leave the country for employment abroad due to the suspended operations of several local recruitment agencies.

The local recruitment industry yesterday lamented that many agencies cannot operate and deploy workers at this time because of the new regulation on the renewal of licenses.

“About 50 recruitment agencies that usually deploy 10,000 OFWs a month cannot operate at this time because technically, their operations were suspended upon expiration of their licenses,” a recruitment leader said.

The recruitment officer, who asked not to be named, explained that while the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) allows the processing of new job orders, workers cannot be deployed since the licenses of some agencies are deemed to have expired, therefore recruitment, placement and processing of new applicants are prohibited.

According to the recruitment official, the non-renewal of the agencies’ licenses could result in a crisis in deployment if not addressed immediately.

The official pointed out that many recruitment firms are having difficulty renewing their licenses after former Labor Secretary Arturo Brion, now one of the justices of the Supreme Court, ordered the POEA not to renew the licenses of agencies with pending cases. – Mayen Jaymalin