In yet another move to ensure the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has issued a directive that now requires local recruitment firms to submit regular reports about the condition of land-based Filipino workers they have deployed abroad.
Dated July 4, this was issued under POEA’s Memorandum Circular No. 3 and this aims to ensure that all deployed Filipinos are monitored by the labor companies. They need to know about the welfare and safety of their recruits and the said report is required to be submitted every quarter.
Along with this, POEA also requires the agencies to report to them at least within 5 working days if any OFW dies, is seriously injured, gets detained, runs away, is missing, or commits desertion. If there are any violations committed by foreign employers, they also have to inform POEA right away.
In areas where recruitment agencies have deployed at least 100 household service workers, POEA also urges the firms to deploy a welfare counselor.
Of course, it is hoped that this will be able to improve the coordination between recruitment agencies and POEA. More than that, it is hoped that this will make the firms more accountable about those they deploy.
In a statement, Hans Leo Cacdad, POEA chief, made it a point to clarify that:
“Notwithstanding this Memorandum, reported cases against an OFW or a foreign employer at the POEA adjudication Office for purposes of watch listing, if warranted by evidence, shall continue.”
Well, what do you think about this new memorandum, our dear readers? Do you think this will be a big help for land-based OFWs? Feel free to leave a comment below and share your thoughts with us. Also, do share this post with other OFWs so they will be aware about this directive.
gmanetwork / pinoy-ofw