The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has shut down a training institute in Quezon City due to the alleged illegal recruitment of Filipino workers to Taiwan.
According to Raffy Tima’s report on “24 Oras,” DMW raided a Match Trend Training and Assessment Center Corporation, a technical-vocational institution in Biak na Bato, Quezon City, during the institution’s Christmas party on Friday.
This was after its two trainees complained that they had been paid for several months since being recruited as caretakers in Taiwan.
However, according to DMW officer in charge Hans Leo Cacdac, “Natatagalan, so mukhang hindi magma-materialize.”
(It’s taking a long time, so it doesn’t look like it will materialize.)
Based on the surveillance operation conducted by the DMW, it was discovered that apart from the training, the institution also offers jobs to their trainees in Taiwan for P40,000 to P45,000.
“Hindi siya lisensyado, wala siyang accredited employer, wala siyang rehistradong job order at hindi niya dinadaan sa DMW yung worker,” said Cacdac.
(It is not licensed, it does not have an accredited employer, it does not have a registered job order, and its employees do not go through DMW.)
Match Trend is a registered training institute but not a recruitment agency.
Based on the company information posted on the wall of the private house that has been converted into a training facility, some recruits have successfully gone abroad.
“Kahit na natuloy basta’t nagrecruit na walang lisensya, illegal recruitment pa rin ‘yun. And in this case, to top it all off, naningil ng P80,000,” Cacdac added.
(As long as it recruits without a license, that is still illegal recruitment. And in this case, to top it all off, they charged P80,000.)
The DMW immediately closed the training facility, and the employees and officials will be charged with illegal recruitment.
Meanwhile, trainees are encouraged to complain if they are offered a job. However, several trainees refused to give any statement.
GMA Integrated News sought statements from the institution, but Match Trend’s representative declined to comment.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News
