IPAMS' Campaign against Illegal Recruitment

IPAMS strongly campaigns against illegal recruiters who may pose as legitimate entities. For three decades, IPAMS (License No. POEA-400-LB-020404-AOE; License valid until 2012) has not gone unnoticed and has been on the forefront of excellent business ethics and exemplary operations. Fees charged to candidates are NOT within the vocabulary of IPAMS. This is in line with the Company's goal to maintain brilliant exceptional service to the Filipino. Although many legitimate recruitment agencies charge you legal fees after hiring, IPAMS goes the extra mile for Filipinos and does NOT charge you any of these placement and processing fees.

On Dealing with a Recruitment Agency:

Make sure that the recruitment agent you will deal with is legitimate and duly authorized by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). POEA publishes a list of licensed Philippine recruitment and placement agencies/firms. Look for POEA issued license stickers. All licensed agencies are issued this. Make sure this is valid for the year. You may also contact POEA's Licensing Division at tel. number 721-0650/721-9498 in order to verify the legitimacy of the recruitment agency. Find out from POEA about the reputation and longevity of the company as well, as some may possess a license but may have been suspended by the POEA.

Some Telltale Signs of Illegal Activity:

1. The recruitment agency charges fees even before hiring.

2. They have no license and are not registered employees of licensed companies by the POEA.

3. They go under the guise of recruiting via "direct hire system". Sometimes, blind advertisements are made requiring payments for processing.

4. The recruitment agency requires you to pay for your own medical examination fees and cost of trade tests.

5. The recruitment agency charges you a large sum of job placement and processing fees once hired.

6. Receipts for payments are not issued out to you.

7. They claim to have a license with POEA but it has been revoked, suspended, or expired.

Once you deal with a recruitment agency, do not pay any fee unless you have been hired and signed the employment contract. Always ask for a receipt corresponding to any payment. Be sure, however, that although it is legal for a recruitment agency to charge certain fees after you are hired, IPAMS will not charge you a single centavo for your job processing and placement.

If you chance upon unauthorized entities, report the matter immediately to POEA's Anti-Illegal Recruitment Branch at tel. no. 722-11-92 or the Philippine National Police or NBI.

Tips by the POEA on How to Avoid Illegal Recruitment