House bill redefines illegal recruiters

THE House of Representatives on Monday approved a bill that will redefine the crime of illegal recruitment by a syndicate by reducing the required number of perpetrators from three or more to two or more persons if committed by non-licensees or non-holders of authorities.

The measure is expected to make it easier to prosecute the crime and give justice to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), lawmakers said.

“We see this proposed law as an added protection for our hardworking OFWs and an effort to strengthen further our efforts in deterring illegal re

cruitment and giving justice to OFWs who fall prey to illegal recruitment,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said.

House Bill 7718, which the chamber approved overwhelmingly with 260 affirmative votes, seeks to amend Article 38 of the Labor Code and Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act by adding a new way to identify illegal recruitment by a syndicate -which is “if the offenders are nonlicensees or non- holders of authority and the act was carried out by two or more persons.”

“Under the current Labor Code, illegal recruitment by a syndicate is deemed committed only if carried out by a group of three or more persons conspiring and/or confederating with one another in carrying out any unlawful or illegal transaction, enterprise or scheme defined under the law,” Romualdez said.

“The minimum number of persons provided in the law makes it hard to prosecute illegal recruitment cases by a syndicate,” the Speaker added.

“With House Bill 7718, we hope to fight the crime of illegal recruitment further and make it easier for government prosecutors to file and prosecute the crime of illegal recruitment committed by a syndicate in the case of nonlicensees or non-holders of authorities, as two or more persons conspiring or confederating with one another would be sufficient,” he added.

Principal authors of HB 7718 include Reps. Ralph Tulfo, Jocelyn Tulfo, Gus Tambunting, and Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo.