The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has shut down the operations of BELMÜN, a consultancy firm operating in Makati City, for allegedly illegally recruiting Filipino workers for factory jobs in Poland.
In a statement on Monday, the DMW said they coordinated with the Makati police to padlock the office of BELMÜN, in Makati City.
The DMW said that BELMÜN was actively recruiting and deploying disguised as “Global Migration Trading,” without a valid DMW license.
“This is a serious offense committed by BELMÜN. We, at the DMW, will intensify our campaign against these unlicensed firms engaging in the recruitment and deployment of Filipino workers abroad,” said DMW Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary Bernard P. Olalia in a statement.
The DMW also conducted surveillance of the agency and revealed the illegal recruitment activities of the consultancy firm with BELMÜN.
The consultancy firm also allegedly operates through partnerships with undisclosed “POEA” registered agencies to send applicants to Poland.
The scheme being offered to possible factory workers in exchange for an “all-in payment” of at least Php165,000 for “processing” the worker’s employment documents, work permit, visa, and referral to foreign partner agencies.
“Applicants are required to pay an initial fee of Php 56,000 for the processing of work permits with the remaining balance to be paid upon issuance of the work permit. The waiting time for this “processing” period could last for up to a year. Worse, applicants will have to shoulder the transportation costs going to their destination country,” said the DMW.
BELMÜN officers may face serious charges of illegal recruitment which is punishable by life imprisonment and fines ranging from P2,000,000 to P5,000,000.
They will also be included into the DNW”List of Persons and Establishments with Derogatory Record”. This means the firm will be blacklisted from participating in the government’s overseas recruitment program.
This is the third closure operations for illegal recruitment agencies this year.
