Government may halt deploying workers to 100 countries next year

MANILA, Philippines - The government may halt the deployment of Filipino workers in at least 100 countries next year.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) yesterday reported that only 85 foreign countries have been issued certification to hire Filipino workers.

“Among the list with the certification from the Department of Foreign Affairs were countries in the Middle East and other major markets for Filipino workers,” POEA chief Jennifer Manalili said.

Manalili noted that the DFA had been given until Nov. 24 to undertake assessment and issue certification to countries considered qualified to hire Filipino workers. The deadline has been extended to Feb. 24.  

“The certifications from the DFA are coming in although not in bulk so we hope the list would be completed prior to the deadline,” Manalili pointed out.

Manalili also disclosed that the government is planning to send teams to countries with OFWs to discuss and clarify the implication of the mandatory certification.

Under the newly amended Migrant Workers Law, the Philippines would not deploy Filipino workers to countries without the mandated certification from the DFA.

The DFA would only issue certification to foreign countries that can guarantee protection and welfare of Filipino workers.

Earlier, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz reported that the government was not inclined to impose immediate deployment ban in countries considered “unqualified “ to hire Filipino workers.

But a POEA official said they could not yet determine if the government would still allow deployment to countries without certification after the February 2011 deadline.

“We still have to wait and see what will happen, but the government is mandated to implement the law,” the official explained.

The local recruitment industry had warned of massive decline in hiring of Filipino workers abroad with the implementation of the amended Migrant Workers Act.

Recruitment leaders noted that of the nearly 200 countries employing Filipino workers, very few are compliant with the requirements provided under the amended law.