DMW 7 aims to strengthen the fight against illegal recruitment

The Department of Migrant Workers in Central Visayas (DMW 7) is stepping up its efforts to combat illegal recruitment and labor trafficking following the discovery of human trafficking at the illegal centers of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) in Lapu-Lapu City.

DMW 7 Officer-in-Charge Karl Frederic Arriola said the problem would be addressed through a variety of initiatives, including pre-employment orientation seminars to educate potential workers abroad about the risks of illegal recruitment and human trafficking.

These seminars are part of the DMW's broader strategy to protect persons from human trafficking, Arriola said during a Philippine Information Agency-7 news forum on Wednesday, September 4, 2024.

The raid, conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)7 in coordination with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and other agencies, revealed that several people were detained against their will and forced to work under exploitative conditions.

NBI 7 Director Rennan Augustus Oliva had stated in previous reports that comprehensive measures against human trafficking were needed.

Arriola echoed Oliva's statement and said DMW was committed to tackling the problem.

The DMW 7, Arriola said, also works with the Ministry of Interior and Local Government, the Ministry of Social Welfare and Development, and non-governmental organizations to ensure a coordinated response to human trafficking cases. / JBB