Immigration consultancy firms are not authorized by law to recruit and deploy Filipino workers for overseas employment. For this reason, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Chief, Hans Cacdac ordered the closure of Sheen-Carm Visa Assistance and Consultancy Services after confirmation that the said firm conducts illegal recruitment activities.

Sheen-Carm Visa Assistance and Consultancy Services used to hold office at No. 23 Villa Soledad Subdivision, Barangay 10, Lipa City. Their illegal activities were verified after an operative done by the POEA Anti-illegal Recruitment Branch.

The POEA operatives stated in a report that the Sheen-Carm used to recruit workers for Dubai and Israel. The jobs in Dubai are for waiters and cleaners while caregivers are for Israel.

Pretending to be applicants, members of the POEA team went to the office of Sheen-Carm and where they were interviewed by “Lourdes ‘Odet’ R. Castro” and “Eddie Reccio.”

The recruitment officers encouraged them to apply for the caregiver post in Israel because they can earn up to USD1000 monthly. However, the processing fee is Php300,000. On the other hand, the jobs in Dubai only offer a monthly salary and Php14,000 and workers need to pay the same amount as placement fee.

The POEA team found out that Lourdes ‘Odet’ R. Castro, is the owner of Sheen-Carm. She is also the vice-president of a POEA-licensed recruitment agency based in Manila.

The officers and employees of Sheen-Charm are filed with illegal recruitment charges and their names would be included in the POEA List of Persons with Derogatory Records.