DFA: Defer deployment ban of OFWs in 41 countries

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday called for the deferment of action on the temporary deployment ban imposed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) on 41 countries that do not guarantee the safety and fair treatment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

In a statement, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the Philippine government should have ample opportunity to dialogue with these countries.

Pursuant to Republic Act 10022, also known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 that took effect in March 2010, OFWs will only be deployed to countries that can guarantee the protection of their rights.  

The law requires that a receiving country “has existing labor and social laws protecting the rights of workers, including migrant workers; is a signatory to and/or a ratifier of multilateral conventions, declarations or resolutions relating to the protection of workers, including migrant workers; and has concluded a bilateral agreement or arrangement with the government on the protection of the rights of overseas Filipino workers.”

In implementing the law, the POEA issued on Oct. 28 a partial list of 41 countries that failed to protect the rights of Filipino workers.

“However, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) believes that there are compelling reasons to defer further action on the list,” Del Rosario said.

Del Rosario said the department should be given an opportunity to hold a dialogue with these countries.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the POEA has approved resolutions seeking restrictions in the deployment of workers to these countries.

Meanwhile, Non-government labor organization Blas Ople Center said the Philippine government should be prepared to explain the reasons for the deployment ban through diplomatic and trade channels.

“This was the first time that the Philippines imposed a deployment ban on 41 countries in a single day and although these are minor job markets, certain countries like India are huge trading partners,” said center president Susan Ople, a former labor undersecretary.

Vice President Jejomar Binay urged jobseekers abroad to heed the deployment ban issued by POEA.

“It’s not worth it. Your safety and rights are not assured in these countries. So when you get into trouble, our government will have difficulty to respond immediately,” he said.

Binay, who is also chairman of the Presidential Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment and chairman emeritus of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, also warned the public to be aware of fake job offers abroad. – With Delon Porcalla, Jose Rodel Clapano, Mayen Jaymalin