THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) yesterday shut down not just one but four offices of an immigration consultancy firm illegally offering jobs in Canada.
Aided by the PNP, the DMW padlocked the main office of Dream Pathway Education and Immigration Services in Mandaluyong City and three branches in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; Apalit, Pampanga; and Lipa City, Batangas.
“Dream Pathway is among the unauthorized entities taking advantage of Canada’s immigration programs, which are being used as a doorway to Canada for temporary work before reaching permanent residency,” newly-appointed DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in a statement.
“Aside from not securing a proper license from the DMW, they are charging exorbitant processing fees to hopeful applicants,” he added.
The DMW said the closure operations were the results of its surveillance operations, which found that Dream Pathway is illegally offering jobs as nurses, caregivers, nursing aides, and welders in Canada.
The firm was charging its “recruits” P110,000 in professional fees under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) program.
Cacdac also ordered the filing of illegal recruitment charges against officials of Dream Pathway.
“We urge the consultancy firm’s victims to contact the DMW for assistance in filing cases against the agency,” he said.
The firm’s officers and personnel will also be included in the DMW’s “List of Persons and Establishments with Derogatory Record.”
“They will be permanently denied participation in the government’s overseas recruitment program,” said DMW.
