The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has ordered the immediate closure of Polaris Manpower and Documentation Services, an unlicensed agency operating in Sta. Cruz, Manila, for the alleged illegal recruitment of Filipino workers.
The closure operation was executed by the Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB), in close coordination with the Manila Police District and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), following extensive surveillance and validation efforts.
Investigations revealed that Polaris was operating without a valid DMW license. The firm allegedly lured unsuspecting applicants with promises of overseas employment as hotel workers, production operators, packers, and cleaners in high-demand destinations, including:
-
Taiwan
-
Canada
-
Finland
-
New Zealand
Applicants were promised lucrative monthly salaries ranging from Php 170,000 to Php 210,000. In exchange, the agency charged exorbitant upfront fees of up to Php 260,000, falsely claiming they were for documentation and visa processing under a legitimate “government-to-government” hiring program.
“Legitimate government-to-government hiring programs do not require the participation of private agencies or third parties in the processing and deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), said Undersecretary Bernard P. Olalia, DMW.
Undersecretary Olalia, who personally led the enforcement operation, warned that such schemes expose applicants to severe financial exploitation. He noted that the group’s referral-based recruitment model posed a significant risk of rapidly expanding their pool of victims.
The closure of Polaris marks the 11th establishment shut down by the DMW in 2026 alone. This operation underscores the department’s intensified, nationwide enforcement efforts to eliminate predatory recruitment practices and protect aspiring OFWs.
The DMW strongly urges all job seekers to verify the legitimacy of recruitment agencies and approved job orders prior to applying.
-
Verification: Check the official DMW website at www.dmw.gov.ph.
-
Victim Assistance: Victims of illegal recruitment are encouraged to seek legal assistance and case filing support through the following MWPB channels:
-
Email: mwpb@dmw.gov.ph
-
Hotline: (+63 2) 8721-0619
-
Social Media: Official Migrant Workers Protection Bureau Facebook Page
-
