POEA imposes new deployment rules for low skilled workers

MANILA, Philippines – Foreign employers may find it more difficult to hire Filipino domestic helpers and other low skilled workers.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has imposed stricter regulation on the hiring of low skilled workers for their additional protection.

Under the new regulation approved by the POEA last June 15, employment contracts of household service workers and other low skilled workers must be verified by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and authenticated by the Philippine Embassy.

Additional requirements for the processing of employment were also imposed, including request for processing; 2) accomplished information sheet; 3) Verified individual employment contract; 4) Valid employment visa/work permit; 5) Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar certificate; 6) National Certificate II from TESDA; and 7) language orientation certificate from the OWWA.

Covered under the new regulation are those classified as “low/semi-skilled” job positions like female aerobic instructress, gasoline station worker, food attendant, baker, merchandiser, reflexologist, and flower arranger, among others.

Also classified as low andsemi-skilled such are male workers bound for Bahrain as butcher, bar tender, mason, plumber, tailor, and many other positions.

The POEA said it issued the new circulars as part of the government efforts to strengthen the protection mechanism for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

The Federated Associations of Manpower Exporters, however, strongly opposed the new regulations, claiming it would “strangle” to death the recruitment industry.”

Eduardo T. Mahiya, Federation president, said the new rules is “unrealistic” and “detrimental” to the employment of more Filipino workers abroad.

He further complained that the new rules were issued without proper consultation with the overseas employment sector. –Mayen Jaymalin, Philippine Star