The minors were illegally deployed by faking the information in their passports released by the Department of Foreign Affairs in Cotabato City. #recruitersfined

POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia. (POEA)

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has fined two recruitment agencies from P0.5 to P1 million for deploying minors as household service workers (HSW) in Saudi Arabia.

POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia identified the agencies as LGH International Services which deployed a 17-year-old HSW to Riyadh, and the Side International Manpower Inc., which sent a 14-year-old HSW to Jeddah.

According to Olalia, the two agencies violated the POEA rules and guidelines for engaging in illegal recruitment and human trafficking as well as for putting the security and welfare of two minors at risks and under exploitative practices.

Moreover, the two recruitment agencies will also be suspended and will be facing administrative and criminal charges for engaging in illegal recruitment and human trafficking.

Olalia said both minors, were among the abused and maltreated overseas Filipino workers who were repatriated earlier this week.

Earlier, Olalia disclosed that the minors were illegally deployed by faking the information in their passports released by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Cotabato City.

Olalia also said the POEA is now closely coordinating with the DFA and with other concerned agencies for the investigation on the minor’s fake documents, including their fabricated passports.

“We are disclosing this information to make the public aware of the illegal practices of these agencies, especially those seeking employment overseas. Illegal recruitment and human trafficking have no place in overseas employment,” Olalia said.