Recruitment Agency also known as Foreign Placement Agency refers to a foreign principal indirectly engaging the services of Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs or also known as Manning Agency.
Private Employment Agency refers to any person, partnership or corporation engaged in the recruitment and placement of workers for a fee, which is charged, directly or indirectly, from the workers or employers or both.
If the job you are applying for was posted by a recruitment agency either a foreign placement agency or a local employment agency; verify first, to make sure the agent you are dealing with is authorized or licensed by POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) and has the proper job order and the person transacting business with you is legitimately connected with the licensed agency. You should apply only at the registered office of the recruitment agency. If the recruitment is conducted outside the registered office address, verify if it has a provincial recruitment authority issued by POEA or has been allowed to conduct recruitment activity outside their office. Ask for a copy of employment contract and study the terms and conditions. Do not pay the any fee unless you have been hired and signed the employment contract. Always ask for a receipt corresponding to any payment.
Agencies shall charge from their principals a service fee to cover services rendered in the recruitment, documentation and placement of workers.
Documentation costs to be paid by the worker shall include, but not limited to, the following:
- Passport
- NBI/Police/Barangay Clearance
- Authentication
- Birth Certificate
- Medicare
- Trade Test, if necessary
- Inoculation, when required by host country
- Medical Examination fees
In the event that the recruitment agency agrees to perform documentation services, the worker shall pay only the actual cost of the document which shall be covered by official receipts.
These are the only authorized payments that may be collected from a hired worker. No other charges in whatever form, manner or purpose, shall be imposed on and be paid by the worker without prior approval of the POEA.
Please be aware of the above information, you might be a victim of illegal recruitment. Just make sure you will inquire first to POEA for valid manning agency and confirm if their job orders are valid.