KABACAN, Special Geographic Area (SGA) – In a continued effort to protect the rights and welfare of Bangsamoro workers, the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) convened the second Bangsamoro Recruitment and Employment Agency Development Orientation (BREADO) on May 14 in Kabacan, SGA.
The orientation, spearheaded by MOLE’s Bureau of Employment Promotion and Welfare, brought together managers, staff, and representatives from various foreign recruitment agencies operating in the Special Geographic Area. Jobseekers from across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) also participated in the advocacy event focused on combating illegal recruitment.
Minister of Labor and Employment Muslimin Sema emphasized MOLE’s unwavering commitment to enforcing labor laws that uphold workers’ rights and ensure ethical and legal recruitment practices.
“The orientation serves as a vital platform to educate recruitment agencies, agents, and other stakeholders about mandatory accreditation procedures,” Sema stated in a social media update. He underscored the significance of complying with Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) No. 9, also known as the Recruitment Agency Regulation Act of 2020.
Under BAA No. 9, all recruitment and employment agencies—local and foreign—must acquire appropriate operating licenses and undergo registration and accreditation with MOLE. Accreditation is mandatory and must be renewed every three years to continue recruiting Bangsamoro workers legally.
Sema strongly denounced unscrupulous individuals and groups engaging in illegal recruitment activities, describing such acts as exploitative and harmful to vulnerable jobseekers in the region.
During the orientation, MOLE officials provided in-depth discussions on the key provisions of BAA No. 9, including the Ministry’s collaborative framework with law enforcement agencies. These partnerships aim to ensure the monitoring, inspection, and regulation of recruitment agencies operating within the Bangsamoro region.
Tayaan Idsabil, branch manager of Rite Merit International Manpower Corporation, expressed appreciation for the initiative.
“Thank you very much to the MOLE and to Minister Sema for this program. We learned a lot, and we were reminded about the important ethical measures that must be undertaken in our work,” she said.
The event underscores MOLE’s proactive stance in empowering recruitment agencies and jobseekers alike, ensuring that employment practices in the region remain fair, safe, and within legal bounds. The activity also reflects the Bangsamoro Government’s broader commitment to decent work and employment opportunities as part of the Government of the Day’s development agenda.