Limited deployment of HSWs to Japan approved

by Samuel Medenilla, Manila Bulletin, June 5, 2016, http://www.mb.com.ph/limited-deployment-of-hsws-to-japan-approved/

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) issued its new implementing rules and regulations (IRR) recently on the deployment of Filipino household service workers (HSW) to Japan.

In its Governing Board Resolution No. 08-2016, POEA disclosed the deployment is still in its testing phase and will be currently limited to Japan’s Kanagawa prefecture.

“Private recruitment agencies cannot deploy to other parts of Japan yet since the project is still considered a pilot test. It’s only for Kanagawa,” POEA Administrator Hans Cacdac said.

According to the IRR, interested applicants for the program should have the following qualifications: at least 23 years old; with minimum one year work experience in housekeeping services; has TESDA National Certificate II (NC II); and Japanese language competency, at least N4 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test for HSWs who will engage in daily life care.

They will be exempted from placement fees, language training fees and transportation fares, but will be required to shoulder the costs for their passports, barangay and NBI clearance, preliminary medical examination, PhilHealth and Pag-Ibig membership.

Hired HSWs will be tasked to clean households; care and protect children, including picking up and dropping off; perform acts necessary for daily life at home, such as sewing, packing, receiving packages and mails, prepare beddings, gardening, and repair services; and assisting and accompanying senior citizens, except providing physical nursing care services.

They will be required to work a minimum of five days or total of 35 hours per week.

In exchange for the aforementioned services, they will be entitled to the same remuneration received by Japanese housekeepers.

Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/limited-deployment-of-hsws-to-japan-approved/#hWhgHuyLdflpSZdK.99