THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has begun cleansing the overseas employment sector of misfits to protect the interest and welfare of Filipino workers seeking employment abroad.

POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia on Sunday disclosed that the attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment in charge of overseas employment has already blacklisted 23 foreign recruitment agencies (FRAs) and direct employers, and suspended or canceled the licenses of 18 Philippine recruitment agencies (PRAs) for violation of recruitment rules.