Immigration consultancy firm ordered closed
THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) yesterday closed the main office and three branches of a consultancy firm for illegally offering jobs as an entry point to permanent residency in Canada.
The DMW, through its Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) and in coordination with local government and police officers, padlocked Dream Pathway Education and Immigration Services (Dream Pathway) head office in Mandaluyong City, and its branches in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; Apalit, Pampanga; and Lipa City, Batangas.
DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo J. Cacdac ordered Dream Pathway’s closure for the illegal recruitment of Filipino nurses, caregivers, nursing aides, and welders to Canada.
“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. Aside from not securing a proper license from the DMW, they are charging exorbitant processing fees to hopeful applicants,” Cacdac said.
The DMW-MWPB conducted surveillance operations and found that Dream Pathway offered various jobs in Canada with a P110,000 professional fee under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) program.
Filipinos bound for Canada under AIP must undergo contract verification and documentary processing by the DMW as legal documentation as OFWs, whether through direct hire processing or a licensed Philippine recruitment agency.
