DMW closes travel agency over fake overseas jobs

MANILA, Philippines — A travel agency was padlocked by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) yesterday for allegedly offering fictitious overseas jobs to Filipino workers.

The local office of Dubai-based firm Legal Connect Travel Consultancy, also known as Legal Connect Travel Services, was found to be operating without a DMW license and offering fake jobs in Italy and Malta to prospective overseas job seekers, DMW officer-in-charge Hans Cacdac said.

He accused Legal Connect of engaging in illegal recruitment and illegal collection of fees.

Cacdac led the closure of Legal Connect’s offices at the DHC Real Estate Lessor Building on EDSA in Quezon City.

The DMW said the firm’s officers and personnel face serious charges of illegal recruitment, punishable by life in prison and fines ranging from P2 million to P5 million.

The DMW said three complainants alleged that they were required to pay “processing fees” ranging from P250,000 to P380,000 for jobs with monthly salaries ranging from P60,000 to P100,000.

Legal Connect reportedly demanded an initial payment of P80,000 to P100,000 from applicants. The complainants said they were told to wait six to eight months for jobs that never materialized.

Cacdac ordered the Migrant Workers Office in Dubai to work with law enforcement officials in the United Arab Emirates to probe Legal Connect’s activities in the UAE.

The DMW urged jobseekers who were victimized by the firm to report their case.