CONCURRENT JURISDICTION – POEA AND DOLE SECRETARY

TRANS ACTION OVERSEAS CORPORATION vs. THE HONORABLE SECRETARY OF LABOR, ROSELLE
CASTIGADOR, JOSEFINA MAMON, JENELYN CASA, PEACHY LANIOG, VERDELINA BELGIRA, ELMA
FLORES, RAMONA LITURCO, GRACE SABANDO, GLORIA PALMA, AVELYN ALVAREZ, CANDELARIA
NONO, NITA BUSTAMANTE, CYNTHIA ARANDILLO, SANDIE AGUILAR, DIGNA PANAGUITON,
VERONICA BAYOGOS, JULIANITA ARANADOR, LEONORA CABALLERO, NANCY BOLIVAR, NIMFA
BUCOL, ZITA GALINDO, ESTELITA BIOCOS, MARJORIE MACATE, RUBY SEPULVIDA, ROSALIE SONDIA,
NORA MAQUILING, PAULINA CORDERO, LENIROSE ABANGAN, SELFA PALMA, ANTONIA NAVARRO,
ELSIE PENARUBIA, IRMA SOBREQUIL, SONY JAMUAT, CLETA MAYO
G.R. No. 109583, September 5, 1997
ROMERO, J.

FACTS: Trans Action Overseas Corporation (Trans Action) allegedly recruits private respondents for
alleged job vacancies in Hongkong for a fee. However, Trans Action failed to deploy private
respondents and their demand for refund was ignored by Tran Action. Hence, private respondents
filed an action for violation of the provisions of the Labor Code against Trans Action before the
DOLE. The Labor Undersecretary ordered Trans Action to pay private respondents and ordered
the cancellation of its license. Hence, this petition by Trans Action arguing that the Secretary of
Labor and Employment has no authority to cancel its license, but the POEA.

ISSUE: Whether the Secretary of Labor and Employment has jurisdiction to cancel or revoke the
license of a private fee-charging employment agency.

RULING: YES.

In view of the Court's disposition on the matter, we rule that the power to suspend or cancel any
license or authority to recruit employees for overseas employment is concurrently vested with the
POEA and the Secretary of Labor.