Saturday, May 31, 2008 Labor dep’t denies license renewal for 180 agencies
A TOTAL of 180 license agencies have temporarily ceased their operations after the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) refused to renew their licenses and permits due to pending violations.
Francisco de Guzman, a well-known industry leader and labor lawyer revealed that he received information from the Licensing Division of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) that over 180 folders representing the application for renewal by the agencies have been returned to POEA for having pending recruitment violation cases specifically those pertaining to illegal or over exaction from workers.
According to de Guzman the non-renewal of the license has caused delays in the deployment and processing of the documents of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
“This development will certainly affect the deployment of OFWs in the coming months as these agencies will not be allowed to recruit, select and process thousands of job orders from various countries,” de Guzman revealed.
He added that many of the agencies are already on their third and last extension of authorized them to operate and accredit new employers.
Early this year, about 150 recruitment firms suffered the same problem when outgoing Labor Secretary Arturo Brion insisted zero cases for agencies renewing their licenses.
But Labor Secretary Marianito Roque Jr. allowed the agencies temporary authority to operate and to process their workers in the pipeline.
During the time of then Secretary Jose Brilliantes up to Brion agencies were allowed to renew their license even if they have pending violations and gave them time to clear their case dockets.
However, it was learned that Secretary Roque changed the rule and wanted the strict implementation of zero cases.
Undersecretary Luzviminda Padilla was assigned by Roque to monitor the renewal of the agency in particular the companies with illegal recruitment or over exaction cases. (MSN/Sunnex)
