DMW: Placement Fees Not Needed for Qatar-bound Filipino Workers

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) issued Advisory No. 24, Series of 2024, “No Placement Policy for Workers to be Deployed to Qatar,” stating that Filipinos going to Qatar should not pay a placement fee. This directive is in accordance with a Qatari Law.

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According to the advisory, Qatar is considered a non-placement fee labor-receiving country. Therefore, recruitment agencies should not charge workers any fees. This notice is posted on the department’s social media account.

No fees to be collected

Migrant Workers Department Says No Placement Fee for OFWs to Qatar

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has issued an advisory informing the public that workers who are bound for Qatar are not required to pay any placement fees. The DMW is the executive department tasked to protect the rights and promote the welfare of the overseas Filipinos. It also aims to reintegrate Filipino workers and contribute to national development.

Its current secretary is Hans Leo J. Cacdac.

In the said advisory, all licensed recruitment agencies are prohibited to collect fees from applicants. These fees include recruitment fees and other related costs that can be charged to the applicant. The DMW will penalize the erring agencies with serious administrative offense if they are found violating the said directive. 

The directive aligns with the Philippines’ guidelines for labor-receiving countries. In particular, Qatar is considered as a non-placement fee labor-receiving country. Moreover, Article 33 of Qatar Law No. 14 of 2004 prohibits recruitment agencies from collecting fees from workers seeking employment abroad. 

According to the DMW, this advisory will take into effect 15 days after issuance. 

DMW Advisory

Here is the advisory, as published on DMW’s Facebook page:

The public is hereby informed that, in accordance with Article 33 of Qatar Law No. 14 of 2004, which prohibits entities licensed to recruit workers from abroad from collecting any sum for recruitment fees, expenses, or other associated costs, the State of Qatar is considered as a non-placement fee labor-receiving country.

This directive aligns with the guidelines stipulated in Section 56 (b) of DMW Department Circular No. 01, Series of 2023, titled “Promulgating the 2023 Department of Migrant Workers Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Landbased Overseas Filipino Workers,” which provides that no placement fee should be charged to workers deployed to countries where the prevailing system, either by law, policy or practice do not allow, directly and indirectly, the charging and collection of recruitment/placement fee.

The public is also reminded that violation of the no placement policy fee is a serious administrative offense with a penalty of cancellation of license under Section 139 I – (m) Rule II, Part VI of the same Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Landbased Overseas Filipino Workers.

This advisory shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its issuance.

For the information and guidance of all concerned. 

Signed: Hans Leo J. Cacdac, Secretary

In related news, GMA Network reported that DMW will go after recruitment agencies that collect fees from workers going to Qatar. It was also reported that some agencies use the term “processing fee” instead of placement fee in an effort to bypass the law. But despite the name change, this practice is still illegal according to DMW Secretary Cacdac. He explained that it is illegal for agencies to charge workers for processing their application. Instead, the agencies should charge the employers since they will be the ones to benefit from the worker’s services. 

Services Offered by the DMW

Overseas Filipino workers can also avail themselves of the DMW’s services. In particular, they can use the online services available on the website. The Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) is a web-based learning platform allowing applicants to learn more about their potential work overseas. There is also the OFW Records service, allowing the worker or their family to request information or record. For those who are processing their direct hire overseas employment, they can create their profile account in the department’s website allowing them to apply and process their application. 

Moreover, the DMW website also provides a list of job orders for Filipinos still looking for employment opportunities abroad. Please note that the job order list may not be up-to-date. Thus, applicants are advised to check with the recruitment agencies for their available jobs.

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