by Leslie Ann Aquino, Manila Bulletin, 23 Nov 2020
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) on Monday explained why there is a 5,000 cap on the deployment of healthcare workers.
In an online forum of the Department of Labor and Employment, POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said a cap was put in place due to the COVID-2019 pandemic.
“We still need to address the current pandemic, particularly the need for workers in the medical field,” he said.
“If we allow everyone to be deployed, we may have a problem once it is us who will need healthcare workers,” Olalia added.
Asked how it will be implemented, he said, they are still waiting for a copy of the official resolution of the Inter Agency Task Force.
“We are still trying to get information on the actual language of the IATF-EID resolution. Will it be referring to new hires only? Private deployment? Are those under the government-to-government deployment included? We will know once we are able to get a copy of the resolution,” said Olalia.
While waiting for the IATF resolution, he said, they started processing the papers of healthcare workers set for deployment.
“The processing also takes time so we can start,” Olalia said.
On Saturday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said President Duterte has already approved the proposal to lift the temporary suspension of deployment of healthcare workers but the Philippines will only allow 5,000 healthcare workers to leave every year to ensure that there are enough HCWs in the country during the health emergency.
It was in April when the POEA imposed a temporary suspension in the deployment for selected types of health workers citing the dwindling human resources in local hospitals and medical facilities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the list are medical doctor/physician, nurse, microbiologist molecular biologist, medical technologist, clinical analyst, respiratory therapist, pharmacist, laboratory technician, X-ray/radiologic technician, nursing assistant/nursing aide, operator of medical equipment, supervisor of health services and personal care, and repairman of medical-hospital equipment.
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
“Safety and health at work every day!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
March – Women’s Role in History Month
April – Month of Planet Earth
Weekly Observances:
Last Week of March: Protection and Gender Fair Treatment of the Girl Child Week
Last Week of April – World Immunization Week
Daily Observances:
Mar 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transallantic Slave Trade
Mar 27– Earth Hour
Apr 21 – Civil Service Day
Apr 22 – World Earth Day
Apr 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
