No official online lookup foundHas not ratified ILO C181
Recruitment agency licensing in Philippines
Licensing authority: Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). Republic Act 11641 of 2021 merged the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) into the DMW, which absorbed all POEA powers and must regulate private recruitment and manning agencies.2,6
How to check an agency in Philippines
The DMW publishes a list of licensed recruitment agencies on its website, dmw.gov.ph, according to SunStar. Malaya reported that DMW told jobseekers to check the Licensed Recruitment Agencies and Approved Job Order lists on the DMW website. DMW has also advised jobseekers to verify that an agency and its agents are licensed before accepting an offer, according to The Philippine Star.4,5,6
Who needs a licence
Under RA 8042 as amended by RA 10022, recruitment for work abroad is illegal recruitment "when undertaken by non-licensee or non-holder of authority". RA 11641 provides that recruitment agencies must be licensed by the Secretary of the DMW.3,2
Fees charged to workers
RA 10022 makes it a prohibited act to charge or accept any amount greater than the schedule of allowable fees set by the Secretary of Labor and Employment. It caps interest on loans to workers for allowable placement fees at 8 percent a year, and requires full refund of the placement fee with 12 percent interest a year when a worker is dismissed without just cause.3
Reporting an unlicensed agency
DMW asked the public to report fake overseas job advertisements on social media to its Migrant Workers Protection Bureau, according to The Philippine Star.6
ILO Private Employment Agencies Convention (C181)
Not ratified1
Main law
- Republic Act No. 8042, Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, as amended by Republic Act No. 10022 (2010)3
- Republic Act No. 11641, Department of Migrant Workers Act (2021)2
Checked 28 October 2026. This page describes the licensing system. It does not list or rate individual agencies.
Sources
- Government of the Netherlands, Treaty Database, Convention concerning Private Employment Agencies, Geneva, 19-06-1997 (29 January 2026)
- The LawPhil Project, Arellano Law Foundation, Republic Act No. 11641 (Department of Migrant Workers Act) (30 December 2021)
- The LawPhil Project, Arellano Law Foundation, Republic Act No. 10022 (amending RA 8042, Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act) (8 March 2010)
- SunStar, DMW warns jobseekers vs bogus recruitment firm agents (26 January 2024)
- Malaya Business Insight, DMW renews warning against illegal recruiters online (21 September 2025)
- The Philippine Star, DMW issues warning anew vs illegal recruiters (9 September 2024)