I. Introduction: The High Stakes of Choosing the Wrong Agency

Illegal recruitment remains one of the most pervasive and damaging crimes against Filipino workers. In the Japan program alone, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) — formerly the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) — regularly receives hundreds of complaints every year involving placement fees ranging from ₱100,000 to ₱500,000, fake job orders, forged documents, and victims who arrive in Japan only to be abandoned or placed in unauthorized work.

Under Republic Act No. 8042 (Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995), as amended by Republic Act No. 10022 and Republic Act No. 11641 (Department of Migrant Workers Act), illegal recruitment is a crime of economic sabotage when committed on a large scale or by a syndicate. Penalties range from life imprisonment and a fine of ₱2,000,000 to ₱5,000,000.

This article exhaustively explains every legitimate method to verify a recruitment agency deploying workers to Japan (Specified Skilled Worker “SSW”/Tokutei Ginou, former TITP trainees who convert, engineers, caregivers, etc.) and lists every red flag recognized by the DMW and Philippine courts.

II. Current Regulatory Framework (2025)

The POEA no longer exists as a separate agency.
Republic Act No. 11641 (signed December 30, 2021, fully implemented February 2022) created the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
All licensing, regulation, adjudication, and verification functions previously performed by POEA are now with the DMW.
Any agency still displaying only an old “POEA License” without a corresponding DMW License Certificate is either expired or fake.

Valid licenses are now called:

License for Land-based Private Employment Agencies (PEAs) issued by DMW
Authority to Recruit (for direct-hire cases, rarely issued for Japan)

III. Japan-Specific Rules That Make Verification Even More Critical

Philippines–Japan Memorandum of Cooperation on Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Program (signed 2019, still in force in 2025):

NO PLACEMENT FEE shall be charged to the worker (Article 6 of the MOC).
Only reasonable service fees and actual costs (OWWA, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, visa processing, medical, Japanese language training if provided by agency) may be collected, with official receipts.
Maximum allowable collection is usually ₱15,000–₱35,000 depending on the category (DMW Department Order No. 001 Series of 2023).

Any agency that asks for ₱100,000–₱300,000 “processing fee” or “show money” for Japan is committing illegal exaction, a form of illegal recruitment under Sec. 6(m) of RA 8042 as amended.

IV. Step-by-Step Verification Process (All Methods That Actually Work in 2025)

Step 1: Check the Agency’s License Status on the Official DMW Website

Go to https://www.dmw.gov.ph → Licensed Agencies → Search Agency

You can search by:

Agency name
License number
President/owner name

The result will show:

License status (Active, Suspended, Cancelled, Revoked, Expired)
Validity period
Authorized representatives
Ceiling (maximum number of workers they may deploy)

If the agency does NOT appear or shows “No Record Found” → 100% illegal.

Step 2: Verify the Japan Job Order

Even licensed agencies can only recruit for approved job orders.

Go to https://dmw.gov.ph → Verified Job Orders → Search by Country “Japan”

Filter by:

Agency name
Principal/Employer in Japan
Position (e.g., SSW Food Processing, Caregiver, Construction)

If the specific job order is NOT listed → the agency has no authority to recruit for that position/employer → illegal recruitment.

Step 3: Cross-Check the Japanese Accepting Organization

For SSW, the Japanese side must be a registered Accepting Organization (登録支援機関) or Supervising Organization.

DMW publishes the list of tied-up Japanese companies/organizations per Philippine agency at: https://dmw.gov.ph/japan-program/accredited-principals

Alternatively, check the Japanese government portal: https://www.otit.go.jp (Organization for Technical Intern Training → search registered organizations)

If the Japanese company the agency mentions is not in either list → fake.

Step 4: Verify Through DMW Regional/Extension Offices or Hotline

Call DMW Hotline 1348 (NCR) or text 0917-898-1348
Email: verify@dmw.gov.ph or info@dmw.gov.ph
Visit any DMW Regional Office or Migrant Workers Resource Center

They will verify in real time and can issue a written verification letter if needed.

Step 5: Check Blacklist and Delisted Agencies

https://dmw.gov.ph → Agencies with Cancelled/Suspended Licenses
https://dmw.gov.ph → List of Persons/Entities with Standing Warrant of Arrest for Illegal Recruitment

Also check the old POEA website archive (still online) for historical cases: http://www.poea.gov.ph/cgi-bin/agencies/agencies.asp?mode=blacklist

Step 6: Verify the Agency’s Authorized Signatories and Office Address

Licensed agencies must display their DMW license and list of accredited principals, and schedule of fees in a conspicuous place.

Visit the office personally.
Ask to see the original DMW License Certificate (not photocopy).
Check if the signatory on your contract is listed as authorized representative in the DMW portal.

V. Comprehensive List of Red Flags (Recognized by DMW and Philippine Jurisprudence)

The Supreme Court (People v. Lalli, G.R. No. 195419, 2013; People v. Ocden, G.R. No. 227899, 2018) and DMW consistently recognize these as conclusive indicators of illegal recruitment:

Agency is not in the DMW licensed list or job order is not verified.
Asks for placement fee or any amount exceeding allowable service fees for Japan SSW.
Promises “guaranteed” deployment within 1–3 months without language exam.
Conducts “interview” via Facebook Messenger or text only.
Uses only mobile numbers, no landline, no physical office.
Requires “training fee” of ₱50,000+ but does not issue OWWA-recognized certificate.
Asks for “show money” ₱100,000–₱200,000 to be deposited in their account.
Uses Gmail/Yahoo email instead of official company domain.
Posts job ads on Facebook/OLX with “Direct Hiring Japan No Placement Fee” but is actually an agency.
Claims to be “accredited by IM Japan” or “JITCO” (these are Japanese organizations; they do not accredit Philippine agencies directly).
President/owner has pending illegal recruitment cases (check DMW blacklist or court records).
Uses old POEA license number that expired years ago.

If even ONE of these is present, walk away immediately.

VI. Legal Remedies Available to Victims

File criminal complaint for illegal recruitment (economic sabotage if three or more victims) at the Provincial/City Prosecutor’s Office or directly with National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
File money claim for refund of illegal fees + damages at DMW Adjudication Office (solidary liability of agency and its officers).
File administrative complaint for license cancellation against the agency.
Claim from the ₱1 Billion Legal Assistance Fund (for indigent victims).
OWWA welfare assistance and airport assistance upon return.

Cases filed within three (3) years from discovery are almost always won when the agency is unlicensed or collected illegal fees.

VII. Conclusion and Final Advice

There is absolutely no legitimate reason to deal with an agency that fails any of the verification steps above. The Japan SSW program is highly regulated precisely because of the long history of abuse.

The only safe way is:

DMW licensed agency

Verified Japan job order on DMW website
No placement fee
Actual Japanese language and skills examination required

Any shortcut or “connection” offered is a scam.

Verify first before you pay even one peso. Your future in Japan — and your family’s financial security — depends on it.

For the most updated list and verification, always use only the official DMW website: https://www.dmw.gov.ph

Published sources: Republic Act Nos. 8042, 10022, 11641; Philippines–Japan MOC on SSW 2019; DMW Department Orders 2022–2025; Supreme Court decisions on illegal recruitment.