Gov’t suspends deployment of new hires to Kenya

MANILA, Philippines - The government has suspended the deployment of Filipino workers to Kenya due to the deteriorating peace and order situation in the African country.

“The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) imposed a ban on processing and deployment of newly hired OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) to Kenya in accordance with the Department of Foreign Affairs’ raising of crisis Alert Level 2,” Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said yesterday.

Under Alert Level 2, only OFWs with existing employment contracts are allowed to return subject to compliance with documentation requirements.

Baldoz also urged OFWs in Kenya to remain vigilant and contact the Philippine embassy in case of any emergency.

POEA records show that at least 243 OFWs were deployed to Kenya in 2013.

Baldoz said the Department of Labor and Employment would extend the necessary assistance to OFWs who will seek of immediate repatriation if the situation in Kenya worsens.

Taiwan-bound OFWs

 Meanwhile, the government has suspended recruitment agencies that collect excessive placement fees for Filipino workers bound for Taiwan.

Labor Undersecretary Reydeluz Conferido said the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Taiwan has stopped the verification of documents from such agencies.

“We suspended the verification process which unfortunately for them has the same effect as suspending their license to operate and recruit OFWs,” he said.

Conferido said the POLO in Taiwan has so far refunded at least P20 million in excessive placement fees collected from Filipino workers.

“We used to require the agencies to return at least half, but since November last year the requirement is to refund the 100 percent of the fees collected,” he said.