DOLE warns OFWs on stricter policies for HSWs in Lebanon

From the Department of Labor and Employment

Policies for household service workers (HSWs) is to be strictly enforced to further protect the rights and promote the welfare of OFWs in Lebanon.

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday directed Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) chief Hans Leo J. Cacdac to strictly enforce its HSW Reform Package Policy for departing OFWs to Lebanon, particularly HSWs, and Labor Attache Nilong to coordinate POLO action with the Philippine Embassy in keeping a tight lid in the approval of job orders for HSWs in Lebanon.

“This is in the light of a report of our Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Lebanon about the tightening of the country’s policies and processes for runaway household service workers,” said Baldoz.

Labor Attaché Bulyok Nilong of the POLO in Beirut reported that the Lebanese government’s General Security (Immigration) has again enforced a stricter policy in the processing of runaway household service workers housed at the Migrant Workers and Other Overseas Filipinos Resource Center (MWOFRC), including HSWs illegally working outside after absconding from their original “sponsors’ or employers.”

Labor Attache Nilong said this is a reversal of a more lax policy being implemented since the last quarter of 2013 allowing mass repatriation of distressed OFWs from Lebanon to the Philippines, during which period the POLO, in coordination with the Philippine Embassy, was able to negotiate five mass repatriation involving 148 distressed OFWs.

“Since 2013, the General Security has loosened its policies and processes, including the provision of embassy referrals to absconding HSWs working illegally with other employers and those who were sheltered at the MWOFRC. It also granted mass repatriation to Filipino HSWs without investigation,” Nilong said.

The reversal of the policy was the result of a reshuffle of office heads at the General Security, according to Nilong. He said it came about after employers lodged complaints that the General Security did not inform them (employers) of the repatriation of their HSWs even if some of the repatriated HSWs have theft cases, or some have stayed with them for only a few weeks or months.

“Many of these employers have apparently spent big amounts in bringing the HSWs to Lebanon. Foreign placement agencies (FPA) in the country demand between US$4,500 to US$5,000 per HSWs, plus US$500 for work permit fees, visa fees, resident permit fees, and medical examination fees,” Labor Attache Nilong bared.

“This means that the General Security will now investigate each and every case of employers who have sought the Philippine Embassy’s assistance for the repatriation of their absconding HSWs and which the Embassy has referred to the General Security for disposition,” the POLO official reported, adding that the General Security has already requested for the individual case files of HSWs at the MWOFRC.

But while he expressed apprehension the new policy will affect the mass repatriation of distressed OFWs, Labor Attache Nilong assured the Secretary in his report that the POLO continues in its own way of conducting quiet negotiations as far as the resolution of absconding and overstaying HSWs are concerned.

“We still have contacts in the General Security despite the reshuffle and our success in the past did not only simplify the process, but also saved many OFWs from being detained, including money penalties as these were waived when the old policy was still not reversed,” he said. He also added that the Philippine Embassy has already requested for a meeting with the head of the General Security to appeal to fast track the investigation process of HSWs cases.

“The International Organization for Migration is also providing us assistance, by way of support to our reintegration services for HSWs who have passed the trafficking in persons criteria and providing them repatriation tickets,” Nilong said.

dole.gov.ph