POEA bars 41 countries from hiring OFWs

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has banned the deployment of Filipino workers to 41 countries that have failed to ensure the protection of migrant workers.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the POEA has approved resolutions restricting deployment to the so-called “non-compliant” countries.

“The POEA Governing Board has thoroughly discussed and considered the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) certifications (on various countries) and in accordance with the law, issued the resolutions,” Baldoz said.

Baldoz noted that the decision of the POEA board, which she chaired, took into consideration the Amended Migrant Workers Act provision that “the State shall allow the deployment of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) only in countries where the rights of Filipino migrant workers are protected.”

Baldoz said the POEA would release to the public the list of non-compliant and compliant countries within the week.

Under the law, Baldoz said, countries considered qualified to hire Filipino workers are those with existing labor and social laws protecting the rights of workers, a signatory to and/or a ratifier of multilateral conventions and those with bilateral agreement or arrangement with the government on the protection of the rights of OFWs.

Baldoz said the POEA Governing Board has approved the certification issued by the DFA to allow the deployment of workers to 125 countries.

She said the Philippines could continue deployment to the countries with the required certification from POEA.

Countries that failed to qualify for certification might still be able to qualify and hire OFWs once they have taken positive, concrete measures to protect the rights of migrant workers.

Baldoz said countries declared non-compliant could initiate negotiation and conclude bilateral agreements to address non-compliance issues.

For companies and contractors with international operations in non-compliant countries, deployment of Filipino workers will not be affected unless there is an existing ban, she stressed.