Professionals rise up vs new POEA rule
Filipino professionals abroad are protesting a new Philippine Overseas Employment Administration circular tightening up on the direct hiring of overseas Filipino workers.
The POEA dictated that these professionals would now have to secure a $5,000 bond from their prospective employers and would have to undergo a pre-departure orientation seminar and a medical examination.
Whereas before these professionals negotiated their own contracts without intervention from the POEA, now everything would have to go through the overseas employment body.
Some of them have even started an on-line petition saying "the new policy is unfair, it brings undue administrative problems for the employers of future OFWs. Many Filipinos will lose out on employment opportunities abroad because of this restrictive and easily abused policy."
It went on "Para sa mga kinauukulan – Kung di rin lang kayo makakatulong sa pag-unlad at pag-asenso nang mga mamamayang gustong mag trabaho sa ibang bansa - sana naman ay huwag na kayong maging perwisyo."
"What's the sense in penalizing someone who made the effort on his or her own to get a job outside the country?" asked an advertising executive in Hanoi.
Isabelle, an OFW in the United Arab Emirates added "This is crazy!!! Our government is not thinking what will happen to the globally competitive OFWs around the world. Now our government are killing the heroes of our modern generation!"
OFW Menandro Dizon said "hingi ko lang maintindihan kung bakit mga batas na mas malaki ang negative effect ang binibigyan ng pansin ng POEA kaysa sa ibang mas mahalagang pangangailangan ng mga OFW. Ang gobyerno natin hanggang ngayon ay inutil. Ang pagtaas ng bilang ng mga OFW ay ebidensiya ng failure ng bansa na kupkupin sa loob ang mga Pinoy."
Besides, the advertising executive said, "right now, the Filipino's package makes him competitive with some Westerners and puts him above most Asians. If we (OFWs) become more expensive due to these new requirements, foreign offices might as well get a Westerner or 2 or 3 other Asians."
The Philippine government is "killing the goose that lays the golden egg."
"If they start messing with hard-to-get jobs and people's futures, they will antagonize a friendly/tolerant segment that keeps them afloat with non-stop revenue," the executive added.
The POEA’s new rules took effect last January 15 and the advertising executive left for Hanoi a week before that.
Aside from mandating stricter documentation and processing requirements which would include posting a $5,000 repatriation bond per employee, employers are also required to post a $3,000 performance bond per employee to guarantee payment of the employee’s salary for the duration of the employment contract. The bonds should be secured from local bonding companies. Further, it said employers are required to provide their employees with health and medical insurance.
Labor Secretary Arturo Brion, also concurrent POEA Board Chairman, earlier said the adoption of a stricter policy on direct hires is aimed at strengthening the protection of the OFWs.
OFWs with employment contracts and work visas issued after January 15 will be covered by the new guidelines. The new guidelines for direct hiring are posted at the POEA website. - ABS-CBN News
The POEA dictated that these professionals would now have to secure a $5,000 bond from their prospective employers and would have to undergo a pre-departure orientation seminar and a medical examination.
Whereas before these professionals negotiated their own contracts without intervention from the POEA, now everything would have to go through the overseas employment body.
Some of them have even started an on-line petition saying "the new policy is unfair, it brings undue administrative problems for the employers of future OFWs. Many Filipinos will lose out on employment opportunities abroad because of this restrictive and easily abused policy."
It went on "Para sa mga kinauukulan – Kung di rin lang kayo makakatulong sa pag-unlad at pag-asenso nang mga mamamayang gustong mag trabaho sa ibang bansa - sana naman ay huwag na kayong maging perwisyo."
"What's the sense in penalizing someone who made the effort on his or her own to get a job outside the country?" asked an advertising executive in Hanoi.
Isabelle, an OFW in the United Arab Emirates added "This is crazy!!! Our government is not thinking what will happen to the globally competitive OFWs around the world. Now our government are killing the heroes of our modern generation!"
OFW Menandro Dizon said "hingi ko lang maintindihan kung bakit mga batas na mas malaki ang negative effect ang binibigyan ng pansin ng POEA kaysa sa ibang mas mahalagang pangangailangan ng mga OFW. Ang gobyerno natin hanggang ngayon ay inutil. Ang pagtaas ng bilang ng mga OFW ay ebidensiya ng failure ng bansa na kupkupin sa loob ang mga Pinoy."
Besides, the advertising executive said, "right now, the Filipino's package makes him competitive with some Westerners and puts him above most Asians. If we (OFWs) become more expensive due to these new requirements, foreign offices might as well get a Westerner or 2 or 3 other Asians."
The Philippine government is "killing the goose that lays the golden egg."
"If they start messing with hard-to-get jobs and people's futures, they will antagonize a friendly/tolerant segment that keeps them afloat with non-stop revenue," the executive added.
The POEA’s new rules took effect last January 15 and the advertising executive left for Hanoi a week before that.
Aside from mandating stricter documentation and processing requirements which would include posting a $5,000 repatriation bond per employee, employers are also required to post a $3,000 performance bond per employee to guarantee payment of the employee’s salary for the duration of the employment contract. The bonds should be secured from local bonding companies. Further, it said employers are required to provide their employees with health and medical insurance.
Labor Secretary Arturo Brion, also concurrent POEA Board Chairman, earlier said the adoption of a stricter policy on direct hires is aimed at strengthening the protection of the OFWs.
OFWs with employment contracts and work visas issued after January 15 will be covered by the new guidelines. The new guidelines for direct hiring are posted at the POEA website. - ABS-CBN News
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