The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has executed its most aggressive crackdown on illegal recruitment to date, shutting down a historic number of erring firms and purging tens of thousands of deceptive online posts in 2025.
Record-Breaking Enforcement Actions
In a powerful display of its enforcement mandate, the DMW padlocked 32 business establishments between January and November 2025 for their involvement in illegal recruitment activities. This figure more than doubles the previous annual record.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac emphasized the scale of this achievement during a recent press briefing. "We've had more closures than in any period in history on an annual basis," Secretary Cacdac stated. "The 32 closures we had clearly tops the previous record. In one year, the previous record is 15. And we thought we did well last year with 15 closures."
Digital Frontline: Cleaning Up Social Media
The department's vigilance extended powerfully into the digital realm, where many illegal recruiters now operate. As part of its intensified surveillance operations, the DMW reported the takedown of 79,445 Facebook and TikTok posts by November 2025 for alleged involvement in illicit recruitment schemes.
This massive cleanup effort targets the modern channels used to exploit and deceive potential overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Protecting Workers from Exploitation
The DMW directly linked these unprecedented enforcement actions to its core mission of safeguarding Filipino migrant workers. "The department has intensified our enforcement and prevention efforts," the agency stated in its 2025 year-end report.
It further explained that these concerted efforts have "significantly reduced exposure of workers to exploitative recruitment practices." By shutting down physical operations and eliminating a vast volume of online scams, the DMW aims to create a safer ecosystem for Filipinos seeking employment abroad.
The record-setting numbers for 2025 signal a new, more assertive phase in the government's campaign to eradicate illegal recruitment and protect the welfare of the nation's modern-day heroes.
