Philippine authorities shut down the first reported illegal recruitment agency facilitating the unauthorized deployment of Filipinos for aviation-related jobs in the United States on 14 March 2025.

The closure of the agency, identified as Aero Strategies in Dau, Pampanga, was led by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) following complaints from three employees who had worked in Kansas.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac stated that the workers were sent to the US to work as aircraft technicians and mechanics under a B-1/B-2 visa, which only permits foreign nationals to enter the country for business and tourism for a maximum of six months.

Gerald, one of the complainants, revealed that he never applied to Aero Strategies. Instead, the agency contacted him directly, inquiring about his availability for deployment and the validity of his license. Shortly after, Aero Strategies presented him with a contract, a certificate of employment, and a salary offer.

“They were probably the ones fishing for our CVs (curriculum vitae),” he said.

He also shared that the agency failed to cover his return flight to the Philippines after his contract ended in December, forcing him to pay for his own ticket, which cost US$700 or approximately P40,000.

Meanwhile, Alexander, an aircraft mechanic and fellow complainant recruited through WhatsApp, recounted that the agency instructed them to tell US immigration officers they were traveling to conduct aircraft inspections.

He also said the agency altered their job descriptions when submitting documents to the US Embassy.

“My position was changed to ‘Aviation Specialist.’ It was supposed to be ‘Aircraft Maintenance.’ That’s when I started having doubts. But I had no choice because I had already resigned from my previous job,” said Alexander.

The workers also reported unexplained salary deductions of US$50 to $80 (approximately P2,800 to P4,500), which Aero Strategies claimed were for electricity bills, despite initially promising free accommodation.

Aero Strategies provided a computation of their unclaimed back pay. However, despite repeated follow-ups, they were unable to collect it, as the agency cited a lack of funds as the reason for the delay.

The complainants were paid only US$19 per hour (approximately P1,080), while their foreign counterparts earned US$35 per hour (approximately P2,000).

According to Cacdac, this wage disparity was due to their lack of proper work visas.

“Those are undercut wages because that’s not a work visa. That gives the employer an opportunity to pay less than the regular rate. That’s why this falls under human trafficking; it’s exploitation,” the DMW secretary said.

Cacdac assured the workers that the government would assist them in finding job opportunities within the country.

“What we will do is talk with local airlines here so that you can have opportunities to work in our own country because I know there is a shortage of aircraft mechanics here,” he said.