POEA Agency Verification

by Mervin
(Sta. Rosa, Laguna)

I would like to know how to confirm if there are job orders for Marhaba International Manpower Services. They are recruiting around 300 housekeeping staff to work in Austria and Germany. Please guide me before paying the amount of 50k for processing fee. Or do I have to go to POEA personally?

Thank you and GOD bless.

Dom's reply: Fifty thousand is not a small amount, and I hope it is in pesos. If it is in foreign currency, that's a fortune!

The steps on this page let you check the status of the job orders at the POEA website. You will also know whether the agency has a valid license or not.

Using the steps mentioned in the said page, I went to the POEA website to check the job orders of the said recruitment agency. I clicked the Search Available Job Orders by Agency and chose Marhaba Intl Management Services Co from the drop down arrow.

The search returned approved job orders for Marhaba agency. It showed the countries, positions, date the job orders were approved and how many job order remaining balance.

I scrolled up and down the results page several times but there was no Austria and Germany. This means that Marhaba has no approved job orders for those countries. It is not allowed to recruit applicants going to Austria and Germany.

You can check the information from the POEA hotline telephone numbers (632) 722 1144 and 722 1155. You will be advised on what to do. There is no fee for POEA assistance.

Update: POEA Suspends Marhaba

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) suspended the license of Marhaba International Management Services after four applicants filed a complaint for the agency’s failure to deploy them to Austria, according to a POEA news release dated March 6 2013.

The complainants alleged that they applied with Marhaba at its office in BDO Building, Bocobo St., Ermita, Manila but they have not been deployed after more than a year and paying a total of Php267,500 for placement and visa fees.

POEA Adminstrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac said Marhaba has no job order nor accreditation from any employer in Austria. Read the news release here.

This answers some of the issues raised by posters on this page that applied for jobs particularly in Austria with Marhaba. If you have complaints against Marhaba agency, now is the time to contact POEA at phone numbers (+63 2) 722 1144 and (+63 2) 722 1155.

Hope this helps.

Dom

Comments for POEA Agency Verification

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Selected to work in Bahrain
by: Anonymous

Napili po yong CV ko na magtrabaho sa Bahrain as waitress sa Crystal Palace. Licensed naman po yong agency. Kaso po nung nagchek po ako sa POEA about sa job order wala po akong nakitang job order nila for Bahrain. Ano po ba dapat kong gawin?

CV selection lng po ang nangyari. Wala pong naganap na interview between the employer at sakin. Basta po my job offer na lang po sakin.

Galing yong resume ko sa work abroad.

Salamat po. Pls help.

Dom's reply: Please do not give any payment or your passport. Call the POEA hotline numbers (632) 722 1144 and 722 1155 to be sure about the job order.

I-share na rin sa POEA yong kwento mo para makapag advise sila kung ano mas mabuting gawin.

Thanks for sharing and asking the question.

UPScale employment agency
by: Eleazer Aglipay

Direct po ako for telecom technician sa Dammam, Saudi. Upscale po ang nag process ng papers ko. Nagkasundo sila sa 1300$. Nagbayad po ang employer ko tapos ngayon pinagbabayad pa po ako ng 400$ para sa plane ticket. Sabi ng employer ko wala na akong babayaran. Ano po kailangan kong gawin? 1 month ng nakabayad ang employer ko di pa ako nakakaalis. Tnx po

Agency asking for payment of visa application
by: aquamarine

I would like to know if PBV agency located in BF Homes Las Pinas is a legal agency. We applied in their agency and interviewed by an employer. At first they told us that it is a position of a waiter/waitress in a hotel but then during our interview we found out that it's not a hotel. It is actually a house in Jordan.

We decided to cancel our application. After a few days they told us that we already have our visa and they said we cannot cancel our application or else we will pay the visa costs of Php150,000 that they applied for us.

The question is, are they allowed to file a case against us? And should we really pay the visa that they got for us? We didn't sign any contract with that agency or employer.

Agency for Taiwan jobs
by: Anonymous

Nag apply yung friend ko sa Visayan Consolidated Services Agency. Pinagpasa sila ng mga requirements para daw maihanap sila ng trabaho sa Taiwan as nursing aide sa nursing homes. Nagpamedical na din sila at PDOS.

Nakapagtataka lang po kasi nung pipirma na daw sila ng kontrata minamadali sila. Kasi daw kelangan na daw dalhin yun sa pilmat. Talaga po bang photocopy lang ang kontrata?

At sino po ba talaga ang kakausapin pagdating sa pag aayos ng papel. Nakita ko kasi sa POEA website na si Mr. Orlando J. Jesena Jr ang representative, pero ang nakakausap nila dun ay si Ms. Kyle at ang assistant nya. Ang office nila nasa manila.

Ang salary na nakalagay sa kontrata ay NT$19,047, pero ang babayaran po sa agency PHP100k plus. Tapos sa kontrata po nakalagay na libre yung food and accommodation, pero dun sa affidavit, may bayad ang board and lodging nila, PHP3,500 monthly. May babayaran din sila sa broker na nsa Taiwan, NT$1,800 monthly.

Dalawa po kasi yung pinapirmahan, kontrata at affidavit. Pareho pong photocopy. Panu po ba magandang gawin? Naguguluhan na din po kasi kmi. Sana matulungan nyo po kami.

Marhaba
by: MAD

Was Marhaba agency also suspended in accepting applicants going to Dubai? I've heard that they were accepting applicants going to Dubai.

Hoping for your kind reply. Thanks and more power.

Marhaba in San Fernando, Pampanga
by: Anonymous

Marhaba International Management Service Co. Pampanga.

Nagtataka po kasi ako. Kung hindi kami magtatanong hindi sila kikilos. Saka po nung nagpapass na po kami ng papeles hindi po kmi sinipot, pinapabalik na lang po kmi kinabukasan. 180k daw po ang sweldo.

Katulad nung unang nagcomment, nagbayad na po kmi ng 90k. Fish packer din po ang aming inaaplayan. Almost 6 months na po pero hndi pa rin po kmi umaalis. Nagdududa na po kasi kami bakit ganun sila.

Ano po ba ang dapat naming gawin? Totoo po ba ito?
Ano din po ang pweding ireklamo sa mga gawain nila kung sakali?

Marhaba agency
by: BOBBIE HERNANDEZ

Opo wag na wag na po kayong mag apply kasi po isa din akong nag ka problema don. I paid 25k for visa pero kaso nag sara na sila. Ngayon di po naman alam kung papaano mababawi yong pera na yon. Please help me. Text lng po 09157165851.

U.A.E. Hiring Through Facebook
by: Anonymous

I read on Facebook po na may hiring sa U.A.E. Ito po yung link sa fb.

Paano ko po eche check if legal or not kasi gusto ko po sana mag apply.

Thanks a lot po. God bless.

Dom's reply: Follow the step by step process of verifying whether a job order is valid or not. Or call POEA at the numbers above this page for assistance.

Marhaba International UN Avenue, Manila
by: Anonymous

Nag apply po ako sa Marhaba as a caregiver sa London. Humingi po sila ng 50k para sa visa processing at nagpa medical na din po ako. Tanong ko lang po kung meron nga silang JO (job order) sa London. Sabi pa po eh 2k pounds and sahod. Pls help!

Don't Apply for Non-Existent Jobs
by: Anonymous

Please don't apply for a job in Marhaba. It's a con. They are licensed if you check at the POEA website, but the jobs it offers don't exist. A search on this website ( http://www.poea.gov.ph/cgi-bin/jobvacancies/jobsByAgency.asp) shows the avaible jobs. Don't waste your money like i did.

Marhaba in San Fernando, Pampanga
by: Anonymous

Dito sa San Fernando, Pampanga may kabubukas pa lang na branch ang Marhaba. Nag apply po ako as fish packer sa New Foundland, Canada. 180k po yong salary pero kelangan mag down payment muna ng 90k. Pag andyan na yung working visa magbabayad pa ng 180k. Bale 270k po lahat yung fee. If wala kang 180k pwede naman daw po i loan yun sa kanila. Medyo nag duda lang naman po pero sa POEA may license naman po yung Manila branch nila.

Is this true? Ask ko lang po kasi first timer pa lang.

Thank you.

Dom's reply: First, verify with the POEA website, here, whether Marhaba has job orders for Canada. Select Marhaba Int Management Services Co from the drop down arrow.

Second, check if Marhaba in San Fernando has a special recruitment authority (SRA) issued by the POEA. This is separate from the license issued to Marhaba in Manila. A licensed recruitment or manning agency cannot engage in recruitment activities in places other than that specified in the license without previous authorization from the POEA.

Third, the placement fee should not be more than the equivalent of one month salary, excluding documentation and processing fees.

Hope this helps.

Cancellation fee
by: Anonymous

Concern ko lng po 'tong agency na to, P&R Manpower agency located at Dian Street, Makati. Nag apply po ako sa kanila for DH in Hong Kong. Sa orientation sinabi nila na mag prepare daw ng

20k for OWWA and processing fee
15k for training
3,500 for medical
2,800 for second medical
1,000 for training assessment
300 for pt
60k for broker or lending

Nag medical ako ng 3500. After 2 days pina-cancel ko application ko dahil di ko afford finances nila. But before that kinuha nila passport ko. Di lang po ako lahat po ng applicants nila. Tapos sabi nila di daw ibibigay passport pag di daw mag bayad ng 1000k for cancellation. Pinilit kong kunin ang passport ko dahil personal identification ko yon.

Pero yong medical result ko di nila binigay dahil ang sabi pinadala dw po nila yon sa Hong Kong. Tama po ba ginagawa nila? Masama lang po loob ko dahil binayaran ko po yon at di ko pala makukuha. Maliit lng po na pera yon pero masama sa loob. Tama ay dapat sa tama.

Placement Fee
by: Anonymous

60k po hiningi na placement fee to Singapore as a waitress. 32k to 35k daw po salary. 1,000 Singapore dollar. Pls reply po para kung di po tama cancel ko po aplication. Thanx po.

Dom's reply: Ayon sa POEA guidelines, dapat hindi lalagpas ng katumbas ng isang buwang sweldo ang placement fee. Sa inyong kaso, dapat nasa 32k to 35k lang ang placement fee.

Marhaba Placement Fee
by: Anonymous

Nag try po ako mag apply sa Marhaba. 60k daw po ang placement fee pero 20k lng daw po ang cash out ko. Yong iba pwedeng i-loan. Waitress po sa restaurant ang inaplayan ko. Di po ba ako talo don?

Please I need your advice kabayan bago po ako magbigay. First timer po ako. Maraming salamat po at antayin ko po sagot nyo. God bless.

Dom's reply: Placement fee should not exceed “an amount equivalent to one month salary, exclusive of documentation and processing costs” according to POEA rules. Is the 60k the agency was asking equivalent to or less than your one month salary as a waitress?

POEA also advises Filipino job seekers to pay the placement fee only after signing an employment contract with a receipt corresponding to the amount paid.

Please don't forget to verify, as described here, whether the job order is valid or not.

Expiring Passport With Marhaba
by: Anonymous

It’s almost 8 months when I applied for the position of housekeeping in Austria. But since then, nothing happened. I am almost broke, have no money on my pocket. I need to work abroad but I can’t apply to other agencies because my passport is with them (Marhaba). I need it returned to me immediately because my passport will expire in April. I need to renew my passport.

Please give advice. Or do I need to take a legal action on that matter?

Thank you!

Dom's reply: First, the housekeeping job in Austria must be validated. Second, withholding of passport is not allowed and is a punishable offense under POEA rules.

You can demand from the agency to return your passport. Otherwise, you can seek POEA assistance on this matter.

Marhaba For Austria No Update Yet!
by: Vivian

My boyfriend also paid 45k. He received a text message early this month (September) saying that the said company in Austria was still working for the papers of the employees. They also said that the employer might be here in the Philippines at the end of the month to work on the papers (not sure what are those papers for).

My boyfriend also went to the agency and asked for any updates about it. He was told that some of the applicants already quit and Marhaba had to do the process all over again. So that's why it's taking so long. They also said that processing the papers in Austria was not easy compared to Middle East countries.

Has anyone called POEA about it? Let us know by posting it here. Thanks!

Marhaba Housekeeping Job in Austria
by: Anonymous

My brother also gave 50k for housekeeping job in Austria,25k for visa and 25k for POEA processing. We want to withdraw the 50k but the agency staff says we can't get the full amount. Is it possible to get the full 50k if we will seek assistance to POEA?

Dom's reply: It is better to call POEA on that matter. Please take also the opportunity to help others by taking proper action to avoid similar incidents in the future.

If you have the chance to meet other applicants in the same position, you could discuss how to approach your concern as a group. You could also go to POEA as a group. I'll help schedule the meeting if needed.

Housekeeping Job for Austria
by: Anonymous

I already gave 50k to Marhaba agency, 25k for visa processing and 25k for POEA processing. Up to now I do not have any idea when is our flight to Austria. Every time I attempt to withdraw my money, that agency gave me many reasons and many promises.

I need to work abroad badly for my family. So please help me.

Thank you so much!

Dom's reply: Please consider calling POEA for your situation. As mentioned in earlier posts, Marhaba has no job order for Austria.

Marhaba in UN, Manila
by: najnaj

My two friends and I gave 25,000 each of us for visa processing last February/March (2012) and we took the medical exams last February 14. Until this date we are waiting if they will give us jobs as caregivers in Austria. They showed some details that they were processing the JO [job order] to your company sir (POEA) and they told us to wait further because POEA still holds the said JO for caregivers and seafarers for Germany.

We are still hoping that they give us work abroad. They always tell us that our applications are still in process. Some of my friends are still hoping. Some would like to quit but still we’re hoping. We hope you investigate this modus. Maybe they used the money for investment or what.

There’s also hearsay that this company is a tie-up with Marhaba. Why does Marhaba agency entertain such? We hope they will return our 25,000 but I doubt it because they told us it would come back in due time and not 25,000 but 20,000.

We are hoping for your concern sir.

Dom’s reply: As I understand POEA rules, no agency is allowed to recruit workers without approved job order. It is better to bring your concern to POEA directly. Please call POEA hotline telephone numbers (632) 722 1144 and 722 1155 and share your concerns. You do not have to mention your name if you are not comfortable. POEA will inform you whether the agency has valid job order for caregivers and seafarers for Austria and Germany. POEA will also advise you on what to do.

To set the record straight, I am not from POEA. It so happened that I had the chance to participate in discussions about illegal recruitment in the past so I’m sharing this information. Many Filipinos would like to work abroad but it could be tricky and costly for those who are not familiar with the proper process. This website is my little way of helping prospective and current OFWs.

There are government agencies that are responsible for certain things. We have to help them do their job. In this case, POEA is the proper agency to approach because it concerns recruitment and recruitment agencies. Please call any of the POEA numbers above. The people there try to help callers as much as they can. Then come back here to share your experience with POEA.

Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns.

Placement Fee Paid
by: Anonymous

I already gave 45,000 php. What should i do?

Dom's reply: I and other visitors to this page will appreciate it if you will give some details. What was the 45,000 for? Was it for a housekeeping job in Austria or Germany? Where and how did you make the payment? Were you given a receipt for it?

I'm sure your reply will help other Filipinos in the same situation.

Marhaba Agency
by: jun

This is related to the comment above. Is Marhaba agency accredited by the POEA because it is offering housekeeping jobs for Austria?

Dom's reply: The agency was given a license to recruit and place Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs based on several requirements, including manpower request/job order of not less than 100 workers as verified by concerned agencies abroad, not necessarily housekeeping jobs from Austria at the time of application.

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