SECTION 1. Scope of Application. — These Rules shall apply to all persons, agencies or entities duly licensed or authorized to recruit and deploy Filipino workers for overseas employment. (Sec. 1, Rule VI Book I, POEA Rules and Regulations)
SECTION 2. Grounds for Suspension, Cancellation or Revocation. — A license or authority shall be cancelled, suspended or revoked on any of the following grounds, among others:
a. Imposing or accepting directly or indirectly any amount of money, goods or services, or any fee or bond in excess of what is prescribed by the Administration;
b. Engaging in act(s) of misrepresentation, such as publication or advertisement of false or deceptive notices or information in relation to the recruitment and placement of workers;
c. Engaging in act(s) of misrepresentation, such as giving false statements, false testimonies or falsified documents;
d. Inducing or attempting to induce an already employed worker to transfer from or leave his employment to another unless such transfer is advantageous or beneficial to the worker;
e. Influencing or attempting to influence any person or entity to prevent employment of any worker;
f. Engaging in the recruitment and placement of workers in jobs harmful to public health or morality or to the dignity of the Republic of the Philippines;
g. Obstructing or attempting to obstruct inspection by the Secretary, the Administrator or by their duly authorized representatives;
h. Substituting or altering employment contracts and other documents approved and verified by the Administration from the time of actual signing thereof by the parties up to and including the period of expiration of the same without the Administration's approval;
i. Failure to file report on the remittance of foreign exchange earnings and such matters as may be required by the Administration;
j. Where the owner, partner or majority stockholder, licensee or holder of authority, or principal officers become officer or member of the Board of any corporation or partnership engaged in travel or engaged directly or indirectly in the management of a travel agency;
k. Withholding or denying travel and other documents from workers for monetary considerations or reasons other than those authorized under the Labor Code and its implementing Rules and Regulations;
l. Engaging in recruitment activities in places other than specified in the license or authority without previous authorization from the Administration;
m. Appointing or designating agents or representatives without prior approval of the Administration;
n. Falsifying or altering workers' employment contracts or travel documents;
o. Deploying workers or seamen to vessels or principals not accredited by the Administrator;
p. Deploying workers whose employment and travel documents were not processed by the Administration;
q. Publishing or causing the publication of overseas job vacancies in violation of the prescribed rules;
r. Failure to deploy workers without valid reasons within the prescribed period as provided under Section 5, Rule III, Book III hereof;
s. Failure to pay or replenish cash bond and renew surety bond;
t. Disregard of lawful orders, summons, etc;
u. Withholding of workers' salaries or remittances without justifiable reasons;
v. Coercing workers overseas to accept prejudicial arrangements in exchange of certain benefits that rightfully belong to the worker; and
w. Violation of other pertinent provisions of the Labor Code and other relevant laws, rules and regulations. (Sec. 2, Rule Sec. 4, Rule II Book III, POEA Rules and Regulations)I Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
SECTION 3. Complaints against private employment agency. — Any complaint or report against private employment agency shall be filed with the Bureau. If the complainant or report shows any violation of the conditions of the license or the pertinent provisions of the Code or of these rules, the Bureau shall immediately conduct an investigation and require the private employment agency concerned to submit its comments or explanation within five (5) working days upon receipt of the copy of order/notice of the Bureau. ( Amended by Sec. 3, Rule VI Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
(a) Contents of the Complaint. The complaint shall state the name and address of the complainant as well as that of the respondent, the specific offense or omission, the date when the offense was committed, and the relief(s) sought. (Sec. 4, Rule VI Book I, POEA Rules and Regulations)
(b) Action on the Complaint. Upon receipt of the complaint, the Administration shall furnish the respondent with a copy of the complaint and its supporting documents, if any, and require him to file his answer within ten (10) working days from receipt thereof.
The respondent's answer should be filed with the Licensing and Regulation Office within the reglementary period, attaching thereto proof of service of a copy thereof to the complainant.
Within five (5) days from receipt of the last responsive pleading, the Hearing Officer, shall schedule the hearing of the case if he finds from the submitted pleadings that there is a prima facie case of violation of the rules. Should there be a finding to the contrary, a minute resolution/summary judgment can be rendered motu proprio. (Amended by Sec. 5, Rule VI Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
(c) Failure to Answer/Appear During Hearing. Failure of the respondent to file an answer within the period prescribed or appear during the hearing, as the case may be, shall render the respondent in default and hearing or investigation may proceed ex parte. Decision/resolution of the case shall be based on the evidence presented by the complainant. ( Amended by Sec. 6, Rule VI Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
SECTION 4. Suspension of license pending investigation. — (a) Pending investigation of the complaint or report, the Secretary may suspend the license of the private employment agency concerned upon recommendation of the Bureau on any of the following grounds:
(1) Failure on the part of the agency to submit its comments or explanation within five (5) days;
(2) There is a strong prima facie case for violation of the Labor Code as amended, its implementing Rules and Regulations and the Bureau's policies, memoranda and circulars; or
(3) There exists reasonable ground showing that the continued operations of the agency will lead to further violation of the conditions of the license or the exploitation of the workers being recruited, or imperil friendly relations with any country or otherwise prejudice national interest or security.
(b) Similar action may be taken by the Bureau Director in the case of private agencies licensed for domestic recruitment and placement.
SECTION 5. Conduct of investigation. — The Bureau shall summon the owner or official of the private employment agency and other parties concerned if any, receive such evidence as may be relevant and necessary, and otherwise take such other actions as may be warranted to inform itself of true facts and circumstances of the case. The investigation shall be terminated not later than thirty (30) working days from the first hearing. The Bureau shall submit its findings and recommendations to the Department of Labor and Employment within fifteen (15) days from the termination of the investigation. (Amended by Sec. 7, Rule VI Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
SECTION 6. Duration of Suspension. — The order of suspension may carry with it the period of effectivity which shall be in accordance with the scale of penalties which the Administration may promulgate. (Sec. 11, Rule VI Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
SECTION 7. Effects of Settlement. — A mutually agreed settlement of the case or the desistance of the complainant shall not bar the Administration from proceeding with the investigation. The Secretary or the Administrator shall act on the case as may be merited by the results of the investigation and impose such penalties on the erring agency or entity as may be deemed appropriate. Such settlement when reached to the full satisfaction of the complainant may, however, mitigate the liability of the respondent. (Sec. 12, Rule VI Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
SECTION 8. Imposition of Fines. — In addition to or in lieu of the penalties of suspension or cancellation the Secretary or the Administrator may impose fines. (Sec. 13, Rule VI Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
SECTION 9. Suspension of Documentary Processing. — The Administration may order the suspension of the processing of documents pertaining to a respondent agency or entity on any of the grounds under Section 2 of this Rule or for violation of any provision of these Rules. (Sec. 14, Rule VI Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
SECTION 10. Who May Issue Orders. — Orders of cancellation shall be issued by the Secretary. Orders for suspension of license or authority or the lifting thereof shall be issued by the Administrator, or in his absence by the Acting Administrator, in behalf of the Secretary. All other orders or resolutions which do not involve the suspension, cancellation or revocation of license or authority may be issued by the Director, LRO. (Sec. 14, Rule VI Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
SECTION 11. Effect of Order of Suspension of License. — An order suspending a license or authority shall be immediately executory and shall have the effect of suspending all activities of the agency or entity which fall under the definitions of recruitment and placement. The Administration may seek the assistance of other government institutions, agencies, or offices to ensure that suspension or revocation orders are carried out. (Sec. 16, Rule VI Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
SECTION 12. Authority to Administer Oath, Issue Subpoena, Etc. — The Administrator, the Director, LRO and the Hearing Officers shall have the authority to administer oath and/or affirmations, issue subpoena, take evidence, compel the attendance of the parties and/or witnesses and require the production of any book, paper, correspondence, memoranda and other records relevant or material to the case or inquiry. (Sec. 17, Rule VI Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
SECTION 13. Motion for Reconsideration or Appeal. — A motion for the reconsideration of an order of suspension or an appeal to the Secretary from an order cancelling a license or authority may be entertained only when filed with the LRO within ten (10) working days from service of the order or decision.
The filing of a motion for reconsideration or appeal shall not automatically stay the execution of the order. The Secretary or the Administrator may order the stay of execution and require the posting of supersedeas bond. (Sec. 18, Rule VI Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
SECTION 14. Action by the Secretary or Bureau Director. —
(a) Where the case arises from overseas recruitment and placement activities, the Bureau shall submit its findings and recommendations to the Secretary within fifteen (15) days from the termination of the investigation, on the basis of which the Secretary may lift the suspension of the license or maintain the same until the violation are corrected, or cancel the license. (Repealed by POEA Rules and Regulations)
(b) Where the case involves domestic recruitment and placement activities, the Bureau Director may take similar action as provided for in paragraph (a) hereof. His decision may be appealed to the Secretary by an aggrieved party within ten (10) days from receipt of decision.
(c) The decision of the Secretary in both cases shall be final and unappealable.
(d) Where the decision of the Secretary is to suspend the license/authority, the duration of said suspension shall not be less than sixty (60) days, unless sooner lifted by him.
SECTION 15. Inspection and enforcement. — (a) The Bureau shall establish an inspectorate system to ensure effective supervision of the activities of all license and authority holders as well as of aliens employed in the Philippines and the implementation of the understudy training program of the employers of such aliens.
(b) The Bureau Director or his duly authorized representative may, during regular office hours, inspect the premises, books and records of license and authority holders and of establishments employing aliens to determine compliance with the Code and of these Rules. (Amended by Sec. 3, Rule III Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
SECTION 16. Inspection Before Licensing. — Before issuance or renewal of license or authority the Administration shall conduct an inspection of the premises and pertinent documents of the applicant. (Sec. 1, Rule III, Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
SECTION 17. Inspection of Agencies and Entities. — All Agencies and entities shall be subject to periodic inspection by the Administration to determine compliance with existing rules and regulations. Inspection shall likewise be conducted by the Administration in case of transfer of office or establishment of a branch office or upon complaint or report of violations of existing rules and regulations. (Sec. 2, Rule III, Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
SECTION 18. Subject of Inspection. — Depending on the purpose of inspection, the authorized representative(s) of the Administration shall require the presentation of and examine the necessary documents, records and premises of an agency or entity. (Sec. 4, Rule III, Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
SECTION 19. Inspection Procedures. —
a) Inspection shall be conducted by a team of at least two duly authorized persons during office hours, unless otherwise authorized in accordance with Section 3 of this Rules;
b) Inspection shall be conducted in the presence of the Manager of the office or any office personnel;
c) Inspection reports shall be submitted to the Administrator or the Director, LRO, within 24 hours after the inspection. (Sec. 5, Rule III, Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
SECTION 20. Violations Found in the Course of Inspection. — Violations found in the course of inspection such as non-compliance with the Administration's rules, issuances, directives, etc. may be grounds for the imposition of appropriate sanctions or for the denial of application for renewal of license. (Sec. 6, Rule III, Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
SECTION 21. Issuance of Policy Guidelines on Inspection. — The Director, LRO, shall issue appropriate guidelines which shall ensure an effective and comprehensive system of inspection. (Sec. 7, Rule III, Book II, POEA Rules and Regulations)
SECTION 22. Guidelines on functions and responsibilities. — Consistent with these rules and regulations and appropriate instructions of the Secretary, the Bureau shall issue guidelines governing its functions and responsibilities.
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Rules to Implement the Labor Code
