Pinoy caregivers warned vs. employers in Canada not complying with requirements
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) today advised overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) wanting to work in Canada as caregivers to ensure that all required conditions are explicitly stipulated before signing any contract with their prospective employers.
Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the OFWs should ensure that their prospective employers in Canada comply with conditions specially those requiring them to provide for the OFWs' medical coverage and two-way transportation to and from Canada.
Roque added that employers and agencies wanting to hire Filipino caregivers are also prohibited from collecting recruitment fees. Once hired, the caregiver also could only be terminated for just cause. In case of work-related death, the employer is also responsible for the repatriation of remains of the worker.
The Labor and Employment Secretary issued the advice following reports from Filipino Labor Attache Frank Luna at the Philippine Consular Office in Toronto who received queries from employers and agencies in Canada inquiring on conditions to be complied with in the employment of Filipino caregivers particularly those requiring them to provide for transportation and medical coverage for caregivers from the Philippines.
He said the reform package on the employment and deployment of Filipino household service workers (HSW) promulgated by the DOLE in late 2006 provided for the conditions to be complied with by foreign employers wanting to hire Filipino caregivers.
The policy reforms, Roque said, reflect the requirements of Service Canada from employers contracting for the services of foreign temporary workers under the expanded labor market opinion (ELMO) in two Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta.
Under the ELMO program, Canadian employers shall cover all recruitment costs including transportation of foreign caregivers to and from Canada. The employers are also being required to pay for medical coverage until the caregiver is eligible for provincial health insurance coverage.
These requirements should warn OFWs and workers against individuals and agencies offering them caregiving jobs in Canada but without necessarily complying with the requirements, Roque said.
He warned in particular OFWs who are outside of the Philippines seeking caregiving jobs in Canada.
Citing Luna's report, the Labor Chief said agencies targeting Filipino caregivers already abroad fleeced their victims as much as $7,000 in placement fees in addition to transport and other processing costs for care giving jobs in Canada.
Roque said the agencies prefer offshore workers to avoid strict processing rules in Manila, noting, however, that only fake employers and unscrupulous agencies are scared of the rules.
He said that in view of the acute shortage in healthcare services in Canada, only bonafide employers in this country can readily accept Philippine conditions on the employment and deployment of Filipino caregivers. DOLE News
Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the OFWs should ensure that their prospective employers in Canada comply with conditions specially those requiring them to provide for the OFWs' medical coverage and two-way transportation to and from Canada.
Roque added that employers and agencies wanting to hire Filipino caregivers are also prohibited from collecting recruitment fees. Once hired, the caregiver also could only be terminated for just cause. In case of work-related death, the employer is also responsible for the repatriation of remains of the worker.
The Labor and Employment Secretary issued the advice following reports from Filipino Labor Attache Frank Luna at the Philippine Consular Office in Toronto who received queries from employers and agencies in Canada inquiring on conditions to be complied with in the employment of Filipino caregivers particularly those requiring them to provide for transportation and medical coverage for caregivers from the Philippines.
He said the reform package on the employment and deployment of Filipino household service workers (HSW) promulgated by the DOLE in late 2006 provided for the conditions to be complied with by foreign employers wanting to hire Filipino caregivers.
The policy reforms, Roque said, reflect the requirements of Service Canada from employers contracting for the services of foreign temporary workers under the expanded labor market opinion (ELMO) in two Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta.
Under the ELMO program, Canadian employers shall cover all recruitment costs including transportation of foreign caregivers to and from Canada. The employers are also being required to pay for medical coverage until the caregiver is eligible for provincial health insurance coverage.
These requirements should warn OFWs and workers against individuals and agencies offering them caregiving jobs in Canada but without necessarily complying with the requirements, Roque said.
He warned in particular OFWs who are outside of the Philippines seeking caregiving jobs in Canada.
Citing Luna's report, the Labor Chief said agencies targeting Filipino caregivers already abroad fleeced their victims as much as $7,000 in placement fees in addition to transport and other processing costs for care giving jobs in Canada.
Roque said the agencies prefer offshore workers to avoid strict processing rules in Manila, noting, however, that only fake employers and unscrupulous agencies are scared of the rules.
He said that in view of the acute shortage in healthcare services in Canada, only bonafide employers in this country can readily accept Philippine conditions on the employment and deployment of Filipino caregivers. DOLE News
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