Gov’t stops processing of contracts for UAE jobs
THE PHILIPPINE Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) will stop the processing of contracts for Filipino household workers bound for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in accordance with the Middle East country’s new policy suspending contract verification.
In a press briefing yesterday, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz described as “unfortunate” the suspension of the verification of contracts of the job seekers, officially called “household service workers” (HSWs), by the UAE.
Contract verification has always been required under Philippine laws, and the rules and regulations on overseas employment, which are being strictly applied to all countries of destination of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
“In this instance, the POEA will stop the processing of HSW contracts for the UAE, like what it did when Saudi Arabia unilaterally suspended contract verification for HSWs,” Baldoz said.
But she expressed concern that without verification, HSWs who will travel to UAE will be vulnerable to human trafficking, which, she added, “wemust avoid at all cost.”
Baldoz said the POEA would be working closely with the Bureau of Immigration and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking to ensure that those intending to work to the UAE as domestic helpers on modes of entry other than the regular work visa will not fall victim to human trafficking.
She expressed confidence, however, that the UAE and the Philippines would reach a “mutually beneficial agreement” on the employment of the Filipino workers as what had happened in Saudi Arabia.
Earlier, local recruitment agencies had decided to stop sending Filipino HSWs to the UAE next month to show their opposition to the new contract policy.
The POEA governing board has already decided to lift the ban on the processing and deployment of OFWs to Thailand, both vacationing and new hires, after the Department of Foreign Affairs lowered the crisis alert level from “2” to “1.”
Baldoz noted the observation of the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok that the situation there had “returned mostly to normal” despite the Thai Army’s imposition of martial law.
Newly appointed Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Chief Rebecca Calzado vowed to intensify the repatriation of OFWs from strife-torn countries.
Among her “priority areas” on reintegration is the OFW family circle, a socioeconomic program extended to returning OFWs and their families to help them have access to programs and services such as community organizing and livelihood loans.
“We want this program revived although this is already existing … we will see how this can be strengthened,” Calzado told reporters.
Calzado was appointed by President Aquino to her post on May 30, replacing Carmelita Dimzon, who retired. A former assistant secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment, Calzado officially took over yesterday following a turnover ceremony at the OWWA Center in Pasay City.
Baldoz also announced the appointment of former Labor Attaché to Taipei Reydeluz Conferido as undersecretary for employment facilitation and manpower development; Mary Grace Riguer, deputy executive director of the Institute for Labor Studies; Jeanette Damo, deputy executive director of the National Wages and Productivity Commission; and Sisinio Cano, regional director of the labor department.