Manila (26 March) --- A group of overseas Filipino workers accused the Philippine Overseas Employment Admnistration (POEA) on Sunday of sitting on formal complaints filed against recruitment agencies taking exorbitant placement fees.

Retrenched OFWs from Taiwan filed formal cases against their recruiters who asked for placement fees way above the government mandated amounts.

Gary Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International, said the retrenched OFWs were charged fees by their recruiters ranging from P50,000 up to P100,000.

Martinez said the POEA inaction on the filed cases has set a precedence as they accused recruitment agencies continue charging new job applicants with excessive fees.

“Retrenched OFWs from Taiwan, for example, filed formal complaints at the POEA and has even personally informed DOLE Secretary Marianito Roque and POEA Administrator Jennifer Manalili during a dialogue that most of them have paid the licensed agencies three times more than what is allowed by law,” Martinez said.

“Up to now their complaints have not been acted upon and their recruiters continue to overcharge new recruits,” Martinez added.

The protesters, who staged a demonstration outside the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Friday, also accused the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) of not keeping its promise to to reimburse the plane tickets the retrenched OFW bought to be able to come home immediately.

Analiza Rufino said she has been desperately waiting the reimbursement of her airfare which was promised personally by OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimson during a dialogue last Feb.12. No reimbursement has been.