APPLICABLELAWSONILLEGALRECRUITMENTR.A.

8042
PresentedbyAtty.AlejandreT.Diaz,DirectorII
AntiIllegalRecruitmentBranch,POEA

Presentedby:
ATTY.ALEJANDRET.DIAZ
DirectorII
AntiIllegalRecruitmentBranch,POEA

RECRUITMENTANDPLACEMENT
NewLaborCode,(PD442)
Definition
Any act of canvassing, enlisting, contracting, transporting, utilizing, hiring or procuring of
workers which includes referrals, contract services, promising or advertising for
employment,locallyorabroad,whetherforprofitornot.Anypersonorentitywhichinany
manner,offersorpromises,forafee,employmenttoatleastoneperson,shallbedeemed
engagedinrecruitmentandplacement.
WhatisIllegalRecruitment?
(sec.6,R.A.8042)
For purposes of this Act, illegal recruitment shall mean any act of canvassing, enlisting,
contracting, transporting, utilizing, hiring or procuring of workers which includes referring,
contract services, promising or advertising for employment abroad, whether for profit or
not, when undertaken by a nonlicense or nonholder of authority contemplated under
Article13 (f) of Presidential Decree No.442, as amended,otherwise known astheLabor
Code of the Philippines: Provided, That any such nonlicense or nonholder who, in any
manner,offersorpromisesforafeeemploymentabroadfortwoormorepersonsshallbe
deemedsoengaged.Itshalllikewiseincludethefollowingacts,whethercommittedbyany
person,whetheranonlicensee,nonholder,licenseeorholderofauthority:
A. ExcessiveCollectionofplacementfee
B. Misrepresentationinrelationtorecruitmentoremployment
C. MisrepresentationforpurposesofsecuringalicenseorauthorityundertheLabor Code.
D. Inducementofaworkertoquithispresentemploymentforanotherunlessthetransfer
liberatesaworkerfromoppressivetermsandconditionsofemployment
E. Influencing or attempting to influence any person or entity not to employ any worker
whoahsnotappliedforemploymentthroughhisagency
F. Engagementinrecruitmentorplacementofworkersinjobsharmfultopublichealthor
moralityortothedignityoftheRepublicofthePhilippines
G. Obstruction of inspection by the Secretary of Labor and Employment or by his duly
authorizedrepresentative
H. FailuretosubmitreportsrequiredbytheSecretaryofLaborandEmployment
I. Contractsubstitution
J. Foranofficeroragentofarecruitmentorplacement agencytoengageinthebusiness
oftravelagencyorinthemanagementthereof
K. Withholding or denying workers travel documents before departure for monetary or
financial consideration other than those authorized under the Labor Code and its
implementingrulesandregulations
L. Failuretoactuallydeployworkerswithoutvalidreasons

CourtesyofLACMMILipaArchdiocesanCommissiononMigrantsandMission
Source: www.archlipa.org/commission/lacmmi

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APPLICABLELAWSONILLEGALRECRUITMENTR.A.8042
PresentedbyAtty.AlejandreT.Diaz,DirectorII
AntiIllegalRecruitmentBranch,POEA

M. Failuretoreimburseworkerforprocessinganddocumentaryexpenses,incaseswhere
thedeploymentdoesnottakewithouttheworkersfault.

WhataretheClassificationsofIllegalRecruitment?
I.
II.

SimpleIRinvolveslessthanthree(3)victimsorrecruiters
IRinvolvingeconomicsabotage:
a. LargeScalecommittedagainstthree(3)ormorepersonsindividuallyoras
agroup
b. Syndicatedcommittedbyagroupofthree(3)ormorepersonsconspiring
orconfederatingwithoneanother.

WhatistheprescriptiveperiodforprosecutingIllegalRecruitmentcases?(Sec.
12,R.A.8042
SimpleIRfive(5)years
IRinvolvingeconomicsabotage(LargeScaleandSyndicated)twenty(20)years

WhatarethepenaltiesforIllegalRecruitment?(sec.7,R.A.8042)

SimpleIllegalRecruitment
Imprisonmentofnotlessthansix(6)yearsandonedaybutnotmorethantwelve
(12)years,andaFINEofnotlessTWOHUNDREDTHOUSAND(P200,000.00)PESOSnor
morethanFIVEHUNDREDTHOUSAND(P500,000.00)PESOS.
IllegalRecruitmentconstitutingeconomicsabotage(largescaleandsyndicated)
LIFEIMPRISONMENT,andFINEofnotlessthanFIVEHUNDREDTHOUSAND
(P500,000.00)PESOSnormorethanONEMILLION(P1m)PESOS.

WherecanILLEGALRECRUITMENTCasesbeFiled?(sec.9,RA8042)
IllegalRecruitmentcasesmaybefiledinplaceswhere:
a.
b.

theoffensewascommittedor
theoffendedpartyactuallyresidesatthetimeofthecommissionoftheoffense.

SUPREMECOURTDECISIONS
REFERRAListheactofpassingalongorforwardingofanapplicantforemployment
afteraninitialinterviewofaselectedapplicantforemploymenttoaselectedemployer,
placementofficerorbureau.(Peoplevs.Goce,247SCRA780)

CourtesyofLACMMILipaArchdiocesanCommissiononMigrantsandMission
Source: www.archlipa.org/commission/lacmmi

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June2007

APPLICABLELAWSONILLEGALRECRUITMENTR.A.8042
PresentedbyAtty.AlejandreT.Diaz,DirectorII
AntiIllegalRecruitmentBranch,POEA

SUPREMECOURTDECISIONS
Thereisillegalrecruitmentwhenonepurportstohavetheabilitytosendaworker
abroadthoughwithoutauthorityorlicensetodoso(PpvsVillas,277SCRA391)
Itisthelackofnecessarylicenseorauthoritythatrenderstherecruitmentactivity
unlawfulorcriminal.(PpvsBorromeo,305SCRA180)

SUPREMECOURTDECISIONS
Anillegalrecruiterneednotpresenthimselftothevictimasdulylicensedrecruiter.
It suffices that he gives an impression of his ability to enlist the complainants for
employment abroad, in order to include them to tender payment of fees. (Pp vs.
Peralta,283SCRA81)
Lackofreceiptsdoesnotmeannotransactionforrecruitmentforoverseasjobwas
made.(Peoplevs.Naparan,225SCRA714)

SUPREMECOURTDECISIONS
Failureofthecomplainantstoaskforthereceiptsforthefeestheypaid,xxx,is
notfataltotheircaseiftheyareabletodulyprovebytheirtestimoniestheinvolvement
oftheaccusedintherecruitmentprocess.(Peoplevs.Comia,136SCRA185)
REMEDIESAVAILABLETOVICTIMSOFIR
AdministrativeRemedy
A. Complaintforrecruitmentviolationagainstalicensedagencyandfiledwith
theAdjudicationOfficeofthePOEA
B. Complaint/Reportrequestingconductofsurveillance/entrapmentandother
specialoperationsfiledwiththeAntiillegalRecruitmentBranchofthe
LicensingandRegulationOffice,POEA
C. Complaints/reportsmayalsofiledwiththeDOLEregionalOfficesand/or
thePOEARegionalExtensionUnits/Centersnearesttheplacewherethe
offensewascommitted

REMEDIESAVAILABLETOVICTIMSOFIR

CriminalRemedy

Complaints for Estafa and/or Illegal Recruitment against an illegal recruiter or a

responsibleofficerofalicensedagencymaybefiledwiththeassistanceofthePOEA
Antiillegal Recruitment Branch (AIRB), NBI, PNPCIDG, or directly with the
prosecutorsofficeorwithlawenforcementagencies.

CourtesyofLACMMILipaArchdiocesanCommissiononMigrantsandMission
Source: www.archlipa.org/commission/lacmmi

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APPLICABLELAWSONILLEGALRECRUITMENTR.A.8042
PresentedbyAtty.AlejandreT.Diaz,DirectorII
AntiIllegalRecruitmentBranch,POEA

REPUBLICACT9208
THEANTITRAFFICKINGINPERSONSACTOF2003
DefinitionofTRAFFICKINGINPERSONS
The RECRUITMENT, TRANSPORT, TRANSFER or HARBORING, or RECEIPT of
persons WITH OR WITHOUT CONSENT OR KNOWLEDGE, within or across national
borders,bymeansofthreatoruseofforce,orotherfromsofcoercion,abduction,fraud,
deception, abuse of power or of position, taking advantage of the vulnerability of the
person, or, the GIVING or RECEIVING of PAYMENTS or BENEFITS to achieve the
consent of the person having control over another person for the purpose of
EXPLOITATION or the PROSTITUTION of others or others forms of SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION, FORCED LABOR, or SERVICES, SLAVERY, SERVITUDE or the
REMOVALorSALEofORGANS.

ElementsofTRAFFICKINGinPERSONS
ACTS

Recruiting.
Transporting.
Transferring,or
Harboring,or
Receipt of persons with or without consent or knowledge within or across national
borders

MEANS
ThreatoruseofForce,
OtherformsofCoercion,
Abduction,
Fraudor
Deception
Abuseofpowerorposition,
TakingAdvantageofthevulnerabilityoftheperson,or
TheGivingorReceivingofpaymentsorbenefitstoachievetheconsent
PURPOSE
Exploitation
ProstitutionofothersorotherformsofSexualExploitation,
Forcedlabor,orservices,
Slavery,
Servitudeor
Removalorsaleoforgans.
THREE(3)CATEGORIESOFTRAFFICKING:
a. ActsofTraffickinginPersons
b. ActsthatPromoteTraffickinginPersonsand,
c. QualifiedTraffickinginPersons.

CourtesyofLACMMILipaArchdiocesanCommissiononMigrantsandMission
Source: www.archlipa.org/commission/lacmmi

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APPLICABLELAWSONILLEGALRECRUITMENTR.A.8042
PresentedbyAtty.AlejandreT.Diaz,DirectorII
AntiIllegalRecruitmentBranch,POEA

TRAFFICKINGINPERSONSDISTINGUISHED
FROMHUMANSMUGGLING
TRAFFICKINGINPERSONS
Usuallyinvolvescoercion
Characterizedbysubsequentexploitationaftertheillegalentryofapersonintoaforeign
country
ConsideredaHumanRightsissue
HUMANSMUGGLING
Usuallydoesnotinvolvecoercion
Characterizedbyfacilitating,forafee,theillegalentryofapersonintoforeigncountry
Consideredamigrationconcern
ACTSOFTRAFFICKINGINPERSONS
a. Recruiting,transporting,transferring,harboring,providingorreceivingapersonby
anymeans,includingthoseunderthepretextofdomesticoroverseasemployment
ortrainingorapprenticeshipforpurposesofprostitution,pornography,sexual
exploitation,forcedlabor,slavery,involuntaryservitudeordebtbondage
b. Introducingformoneyorotherconsideration,anyconsideration,anyFilipinatoa
foreignerasapossiblespouseortoofferanyFilipinatoaforeignerasaprostitute
c. Offeringorcontractingmarriageforpurposesofacquiring,buying,offering,sellingor
tradingapersontoengageinprostitution,orotheractsofexploitation
d. Undertakingororganizingtoursandtravelplansconsistingoftourismpackagesfor
purposesofutilizingorofferingpersonsforprostitution,pornographyorsexual
exploitation
e. Maintainingorhiringapersontoengageinprostitutionorpornography
f. Adoptingorfacilitatingtheadoptionofpersonsforthepurposeofprostitution,
pornography,sexualexploitation,forcedlabor,slavery,involuntaryservitudeordebt
bondage
g. Recruiting,hiring,adopting,transportingorabductingaperson,bymeansofthreat
oruseofforce,fraud,deceit,violenceorcoercion.

CourtesyofLACMMILipaArchdiocesanCommissiononMigrantsandMission
Source: www.archlipa.org/commission/lacmmi

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June2007