📍 Cebu City, Philippines – Hundreds of teachers from Visayas and Mindanao gathered at a hotel in Cebu City, hoping to land a teaching job in Alaska, USA. But instead of a golden opportunity, they found themselves at an unauthorized recruitment event that was immediately shut down by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Regional Office VII (RO-VII).
Why Was the Recruitment Stopped?
👀 A surprise inspection was led by DMW RO-VII Officer-in-Charge Maria Eloida O. Cantona and officials from the Migrant Workers Protection Division. They found that the recruitment operation was missing a crucial document—the Letter of Authority (LOA).
📜 The LOA is an official permit from DMW that allows recruitment agencies to hold interviews and screenings outside their registered offices. Without it, any hiring process is considered illegal.
🚨 “They failed to present their LOA, so we had to shut them down immediately,” said Cantona.
What Was Wrong with the Process?
✖️ No licensed recruitment agency was present.
✖️ School principals and superintendents conducted interviews without proper authorization.
✖️ The event violated standard overseas job placement procedures.
DMW Warns the Public! ⚠️
Cantona reminded job seekers to be extra careful when applying for work abroad.
💡 “These illegal recruitments seem convincing, but they are dangerous. Always check if a recruitment agency is licensed and verify job postings on the official DMW website,” she said.
What’s Next?
🔍 Alaska Deputy Commissioner of Labor Nelson San Juan confirmed that they received a report about the incident.
🚔 No arrests were made, but the DMW is closely monitoring similar cases.
📢 The public is urged to report suspicious recruitment activities immediately.
Stay Alert, Stay Safe! 🚀
With more Filipinos seeking work abroad, illegal recruitment is on the rise. Don’t fall for scams—always verify before applying!
👉 Want to work overseas? Check job orders on the DMW website to avoid illegal recruiters!
