Verifying contracts of Sabah Filipino workers
KOTA KINABALU: The Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO) welcomes the idea of seeking the intervention of the International Labour Affairs Bureau (ILAB) in order to further secure the interest and welfare of Filipino workers in Malaysia so as to address high service fees imposed by some Filipinooperated recruitment agents in Sabah.
Its Labour Attache 1 Henry P Tianero said ILAB’s intervention would surely help address the problem apart from simplifying the procedures of POEA application approvals as well reduce financial burden of workers and employers.
“Allowing POLO to verify employment documents in Sabah will greatly help speed up the processing of applications and cut cost,” he said when contacted in Kuala Lumpur Wednesday.
Last week, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said the office would soon meet with the relevant government department and agencies to look into the plight of the Filipino workers and employers in Sabah and at the same time find solutions to address the reported exorbitant service fees Filipino workers need to pay.
“We will seek the intervention of ILAB,’’ POEA Administrator Bernard Atty Bernard P Olalia said, adding that ILAB is incharge of the Philippine Labour in Malaysia.
He also hinted at the possibility of allowing POLO to verify the employment documents of applicants in Sabah instead of doing it in Kuala Lumpur as presently practised.
“The move to allow POLO to verify the employment documents of Filipinos in Sabah is timely and logical considering the cost to be incurred by the applicants in going to Kuala Lumpur and other expenses like food and accommodations,’’ the Labour Attache said.
Henry assured that his office would give its full support to POEA, Labour Department and other related agencies and departments to further protect the interest and welfare of every Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Malaysia.
Replying to a question, he also outrightly disagreed with the practise of some recruitment agents in Sabah charging exorbitant service fees to workers and employers as reported by a local daily.
Meanwhile, the Filipino communities here including local employers welcomed the initiative of POEA in its efforts to address the exorbitant service fees and simplifying its procedural process.
They said addressing the problem would discourage Filipino workers from violating both Philippine and Malaysian Immigration and employment laws.
The measure would also in many ways make things easier for OFWs to return to their mother land for vacation purposes, they stressed and added that the initiative would at the same time encourage more local employers to register workers.
The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) is the Department of Labour and Employment’s (DOLE) link to the world.
It is directly under the Office of the Secretary of Labour. It acts as the operating arm of DOLE for the administration and enforcement of its policies and programs applicable to the OFWs.
To date, there are 34 POLOs around the world – 11 of which are in Asia, 13 in the Middle East, seven in Europe, and three in the Americas.
In the performance of its services, the POLOs work in partnership with relevant Philippine government agencies, host government, Filipino communities, and non-government organizations (NGOs) that monitor and assist our overseas workforce.
A POLO is headed by a Labour Attache who supervises labour corps personnel at post and manages the operations of the FWRC. As stated in R.A. 8042 (1995), each FWRC shall be staffed by a minimum of four personnel comprising the following: A Labor Attache (DOLE), A Foreign Service personnel (DFA), A Welfare Officer (OWWA), A Center Coordinator (OWWA) and An Interpreter, when necessary (local hire).
The POLO operates under the One-Country Team Approach (OCTA) wherein all officers, representatives, and personnel of the Philippine Government posted abroad shall, in each host country, act as one-country team with a mission under the leadership of the Ambassador, who shall act as team leader.
Act as the operating arm of DOLE in their respective geographical areas for the administration and enforcement of duly adopted policies and program of the Department of International Labour affairs; promote and protect the general welfare of Filipino workers abroad;
Act as representative abroad of the POEA, upon request, to serve as marketing agents of the DOLE with the authority to enter into contracts with foreign employers as established in the negotiating rules of the POEA;
Promote understanding and support between the host government and the Philippines and between Filipino workers and management in the country of assignment through, among others, information dissemination concerning Philippine policies and programs on labour and employment.
Assist Filipino Workers in the preparation of contracts and all documents relating to employment, to certify or attest the same, and whenever authorized, to collect fees therefore, design model contracts of employment suitable to their areas of assignment.
Assist in implementing the foreign exchange remittance program of the government from OFWs to their respective families/beneficiaries in the Philippines.
Keep the DOLE informed on significant development in the field of labor, including political, cultural, social, and economic aspects and policy innovations that may be relevant to Philippine labor needs.
Assist the diplomatic mission or consular mission abroad towards achieving and maintaining cordial relationship and goodwill between the Philippines and the host country.
Submit regular as well as special reports.