How to Verify the Manpower Agency or Placement Office in POEA

Recently, there is news regarding recruitment agencies involved in providing false information to their Overseas Filipino Workers. Unfortunately, many of our countrymen fall victim because of the alleged large salary and great benefits in exchange for working as OFWs in the Middle East or in other Asian countries.

Some of the hopefuls even gave a large amount of money as their “placement fees” only to find out that the agency is illegal and already took their money for themselves.

This is why you need to learn how to check the status of the agency if they have a valid license to operate and conduct interviews for the jobs that they are offering. Before you start the application process and send your personal documents such as passport, birth certificate, diploma, TESDA training certificates, and valid IDs to these manpower agencies, verify the company’s integrity first.

How to Verify a Placement Agency or Manpower Agency

The verification is easy. It only involves a personal computer, laptop or smartphone, and internet connection. It will only consume three to five minutes of your time and can help save you from the illegal agencies or fly-by-night recruiters.

1. Verify the Status of the Recruitment Agency by Searching it on the POEA Website.

Go to the POEA website at www.poea.gov.ph and you will see the search box “Status of Recruitment Agencies”. Type the name of the agency that you want to check inside the bus and click the search button.

Let’s say for example you want to check the status of AB ADELANTE MANPOWER RESOURCES INC. If after you type the name of the agency and there is no name showing up, probably, the agency that you are applying for has a problem.

If the agency is registered, you can immediately see the details of the said agency with POEA. You can find the following information from their database:

• Full name of the agency (type of agency)
• Full address of the agency
• Telephone numbers / mobile contact details
• Email address (if available)
• Website address (if there is any)
• Name of the official representative
• Status of license (Valid or expired license)
• License validity (from month / day / year to month / day / year)

2. Going to the POEA Personally

If you don’t have a personal computer connected to the internet or you do not know how to use a device, you can go to the POEA personally.

You can go to the POEA located in Mandaluyong City. Their office address is Blas F. Ople Building, Ortigas Avenue cor EDSA, Mandaluyong City. You can go directly to their customer service representative to inquire about the status of the agency.

You can also call the POEA hotline at (02) 722 11 44 or (02) 722 11 55.

Manpower Agencies That Require No Placement Fee

There are manpower agencies that offer no placement fee, processing fee or salary deduction. There are even agencies that offer free foreign language training. To determine it, you can inquire directly to the agency.

Be careful when dealing with people especially if it involves money and jobs. If something feels off, it means you need to investigate further.