Recruiters want review of migrant workers' law

MANILA, Philippines – To prevent the possible closure of many foreign markets and eventual death of the country’s overseas employment, local recruiters yesterday called on Congress to review the newly amended Migrant Workers Law.

Victor Fernandez, Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc. (PASEI) president, said certain provisions of the law could negatively affect the deployment of Filipino workers abroad.

Fernandez identified the two most critical issues as the requirement for certification among host countries and the compulsory insurance coverage for agency-hired workers at such exorbitant and prohibitive premiums.

According to Fernandez, the Philippine government, particularly the governing board of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), must exercise prudence by keeping as confidential and not publicizing the country certifications submitted to the body by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“Keeping the certifications confidential is one way for the Philippines to preserve its friendly relations with and to prevent potential diplomatic backlash from host countries, in case a negative certification is made public,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez said the non-publication of certified countries would not diminish the power and authority of the POEA to exercise its mandate in barring or blacklisting erring foreign employers from participating in the overseas employment program and from recruiting and hiring Filipino workers.

“Instead of categorizing host countries as favorable or unfavorable, the POEA should blacklist errant employers and not host countries receiving our Filipino workers,” Fernandez said.    

Concerning the compulsory insurance coverage for agency-hired workers, Fernandez said the recruitment industry believes the rates imposed by the National Insurance Commission were totally “unconscionable.”

He then appealed to Congress to consider making the insurance coverage for agency-hired workers be on a voluntary basis.