Latest news with #DepartmentofMigrantWorkers
Filipino Times
a day ago
- Business
- Filipino Times
3,000 abandoned balikbayan boxes turned over to DMW for delivery to OFW families
Around 3,000 balikbayan boxes, originally sent by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) but left unclaimed due to mishandling and neglect by freight forwarders, have been handed over to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for proper distribution to the intended recipients. In a statement on May 29, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said the turnover follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to keep government services attuned to the needs of Filipino families. With the Department of Finance's (DOF) approval, the BOC officially declared the boxes as forfeited and finalized a deed of donation with the DMW. The DMW will now be responsible for ensuring the long-delayed packages are delivered to the families of OFWs. BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio assured the public that the balikbayan boxes would finally reach their rightful recipients after months of inter-agency coordination since early 2024. The BOC emphasized that it took extensive steps to secure legal clearances, complete documentation, and manage logistics to ensure the boxes could be lawfully and properly released.
Filipino Times
3 days ago
- Filipino Times
DMW arrests suspected illegal recruiter, suspends two agencies in surprise inspection
A suspected illegal recruiter was arrested while two recruitment agencies were suspended during a surprise inspection led by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in Malate, Manila. The DMW identified the suspended agencies as Femex Recruitment Agency and Superred Manpower Services, both found to have violated several DMW regulations. This includes the employment of unregistered personnel and the use of an unlicensed accommodation facility. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac warned the public that some licensed agencies are illegally allowing unregistered individuals to recruit on their behalf—a scheme known as the 'kabit system.' He has ordered further investigation into these practices. 'Dapat kilala natin ang taong nagre-recruit, dapat lehitimo. Kung ang isa doon ay walang lisensya o ang may lisensya ay nagpapagamit ng kanyang lisensya, ito ang kabit system,' Cacdac said. During the inspection, an OFW, who was illegally recruited through Facebook was also rescued. Secretary Cacdac directed that training, employment facilitation, and possible financial assistance be provided to the rescued individual. 'May isa naman doon nag-a-apply, nirefer siya ng illegal sa labas, isang form ng 'kabit system.' Posibleng may opisina doon, o dili kaya nire-refer niya, kaya kasabwat ang legal ng illegal,' Cacdac said.
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
Marcos says Kuwait grateful for OFW contributions
President Marcos in a meeting with Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah at the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. (Photo from PCO) KUALA LUMPUR - President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said Tuesday that the Kuwaiti government has been grateful for the contribution of overseas Filipino workers in its country. Marcos said this to Philippine reporters after his bilateral meeting with Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah at the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. ''We spoke now with Kuwait about the interaction between the Philippines and Kuwait and how they would like to – how grateful they are for the contribution that our OFWs have done to the development of their country and they have been very kind to us,'' Marcos said. This despite a report early this year, saying that the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) was considering banning the deployment of OFWs in Kuwait, due to reported deaths of some Filipinos there. The Philippines currently prohibits the deployment of first-time domestic workers to Kuwait in response to the incident. Aside from Kuwait, Marcos also had bilateral talks with Lao PDR, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
New Zealand praises OFW contributions to Kiwi society, community
Filipinos have been making significant contributions to the economy and society in New Zealand, the country's ambassador to the Philippines said Tuesday. 'What I am aware of to date is the incredible contribution that Filipino workers are making to both New Zealand's economy and our society, in terms of just what great people they are to have in our country, great workers, always happy, always willing,' New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Catherine McIntosh said at a media event in Makati City. McIntosh, who spoke recently with Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac, added that Filipinos are active in New Zealand's healthcare, construction, IT, and dairy industries. In particular, she highlighted Filipino workers who helped rebuild communities after the deadly Christchurch earthquake in 2011. McIntosh added that during the meeting between New Zealand Minister of Defense Judith Collins and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in April, the former extended her thanks for the growing contributions made by Filipinos. 'From 2001, it was just 10,000 [Filipinos in New Zealand], and by 2023, when we conducted our census, it had grown to 108,000 Filipinos in New Zealand, so [there was] a significant increase,' McIntosh said. 'The Minister actually commented on that it's not just that Filipinos integrate well into our communities, they enhance the communities that they belong to,' she added. McIntosh and Cacdac also discussed joint labor committee meetings, refreshed key and bilateral agreements, improved cooperation between the two countries, and better provisions for Filipino migrant workers in New Zealand. — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- GMA Network
DMW: 2 recruitment agencies suspended, 1 nabbed for illegal recruitment in Manila
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) suspended two recruitment agencies and arrested one person for allegedly engaging in illegal recruitment. In a statement Tuesday, DMW said it conducted a surprise inspection of recruitment agencies at the Gedisco Center in Malate, Manila on Monday. DMW said it found two recruitment agencies allegedly engaged in multiple violations, including the employment of unregistered personnel and the operation of an unregistered accommodation facility. 'Kaya dapat walang labis o kulang sa talaan ng DMW, dahil kung labis o kulang posibleng may illegal recruitment na nangyayari. Dapat kilala natin ang taong nagre-recruit, dapat lehitimo. Kung ang isa doon ay walang lisensya o ang may lisensya ay nagpapagamit ng kanyang lisensya ito ang kabit system,'' Cacdac said. (Reports to the DMW should be exact, because if there is too much or a lack of information in records, illegal recruitment could be taking place. We should know the people involved in the recruitment. They should be legitimate. If a recruiter does not have a license or is allowing another person to use their license, then they are employing a 'kabit' system.) During the operation, DMW also rescued an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) allegedly recruited through Facebook. DMW said the OFW will receive aid from the agency. Meanwhile, the DMW caught a suspect allegedly conducting recruitment activities despite being unregistered as an employee of the agency. 'May isa naman doon nag-a-apply, nirefer siya ng illegal sa labas, isang form ng 'kabit system.' Posibleng may opisina doon, o dili kaya nire-refer niya, kaya kasabwat ang legal ng illegal,' Cacdac said. (A person was applying. He was referred by the illegal recruiter. This is a form of 'tie up' system. Possibly, there is an office there or he was referred, so the legal and illegal recruiters are accomplices.) Cacdac reminded that agency personnel are prohibited from recruiting outside their registered office or in areas without an official branch. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News
