OFWs can still pay Pag-Ibig membership through POEA

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration clarified it has not suspended the collection of Pag-Ibig Fund membership fees from overseas Filipino workers, as reportedly ordered by Vice President Jejomar Binay in his capacity as chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.

In a statement, POEA Administrator Jennifer Jardin-Manalili said POEA is yet to meet with Pag-Ibig to further study the issue and discuss a more facilitative mechanism to implement the coverage of workers under the fund.

Membership with Pag-Ibig was made compulsory among OFWs by virtue of Republic Act 9679 or the Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 2009. Under the law, OFWs can send their contributions directly to any Pag-Ibig office nationwide.

Under RA 9679, membership to Pag-Ibig is also compulsory for all employees – including their employers – coverable by the Social Security System or Government Service Insurance system, regardless of status of employment or nature of appointment.

The law took effect last January 1, 2010.

Meanwhile, in a separate matter, POEA warned recruitment agencies in the Philippines on the charging of fees from applicants to jobs in the United States and Guam under the H-2B visa category or non-agricultural temporary worker.

The policy, contained in POEA Memorandum Circular No. 10 Series of 2009 issued in September last year, is in line with US Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 2009, which forbids the charging of recruitment or placement fees from a worker as a condition for employment under an H-2B visa.

POEA said it has adopted a policy that prohibits charging of placement fees from workers applying for jobs in countries that do not allow charging of such fees since 2001.

The US, including Guam, now forbid the charging of placement fees from workers, POEA said.

Other places that prohibit the collection of placement fees from workers are United Kingdom, Ireland, Israel, some parts of Canada like Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia, Seskatchewan, and Netherlands. (THE FREEMAN)