DMW padlocks recruitment firm

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) yesterday shut down an immigration consultancy firm for reportedly illegally offering jobs in Canada.

The DMW, through its Migrant Workers Protection Bureau and in coordination with the local government, padlocked Dream Pathway’s head office in Mandaluyong.

The company’s three branches in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; Apalit, Pampanga, and Lipa City, Batangas were also shut down.

DMW officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac said he issued the closure order after receiving information that the company was illegally recruiting Filipino nurses, caregivers, nursing aides and welders to work in Canada.

Dream Pathway is not authorized by the DMW to offer jobs in Canada, Cacdac said.

“It is taking advantage of Canada’s immigration programs, which are being used as a doorway for temporary work before reaching permanent residency there,” he said.

Cacdac said aside from not securing a license from the DMW, the company charges job applicants exorbitant processing fees.

The DMW found that Dream Pathway has been asking prospective OFWs P110,000 in fees under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot program.