Warning aired vs new hiring policy for OFWs

[mhelskie]

link from http://www.gmanews.tv/story/77354/Wa...olicy-for-OFWs

The issuance of a new policy on direct hiring will hinder the job opportunities for overseas Filipino workers and place an additional layer of bureaucracy on foreign employment, according to a recruitment industry consultant.

Employment consultant Emmanuel Geslani in a statement on Monday said that Memorandum Circular No. 4, series 2007 that took effect last Jan. 15 will also mean additional costs for interested employers.

“The new guidelines will reduce the chances of Filipino workers in acquiring their own employers through their own efforts," Geslani said.

Under the new rules, direct hiring of OFWs by foreign employers will be allowed upon approval by the Secretary of Labor and subject to screening of employers and employment contract verification by the labor attaché or the Philippine embassy.

In addition, direct hiring will also be allowed only for members of the diplomatic corps and of international organizations, government officials of ministerial level, and employers who are hiring on one-time or trial basis.

The number of employees to be hired directly shall not exceed 5.

The new rule also directs the employers to comply with stricter documentation and processing requirements. This includes the posting of repatriation bond in the amount of US$5,000 per employee to guarantee the repatriation of the worker or of his remains, in the event of death, and performance bond of US$3,000 per employee to guarantee payment of the employee's salary for the duration of the employment contract.

The bonds could be secured from local bonding companies. They will also provide the employees with health and medical insurance.

Geslani said before the issuance on the guidelines, the contract for direct hiring just needs verification from the POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Offices) and submission to the POEA for processing.

He said the approval of the Labor Secretary in all cases specified under the new guidelines is just another layer to the process of recruitment and will result to the delay of employment.

Geslani added that the $5,000 bond for repatriation, performance bond equivalent to three months salary, and medical insurance will discourage foreign employers to hire Filipinos.

Labor Secretay Arturo Brion explained that the adoption of a stricter policy on direct hires is aimed at strengthening the protection mechanisms for the OFWs. - GMANews.TV

[theveed]

stupid stupid ... benefits no one but those who will "secure" the bonds collected... So kung may OFW na ihihire for USD$2000/mo they expect the employer to fork out 8K up front? hehehe... dumb dumb.

[mhelskie]

yup, same sentiments here, saka di nman lahat ng OFW are skilled workers eh, pano na ung mga nagd DH or ung mga hindi skilled, employers would rather choose workers from other countries lalo na kung same level ng skills and salary.

And the question here is, what if na fulfill ng employee and employer ng maayos ang contracts, do they return the $8000 to the employer? hmmmm

[theveed]

Exactly... hehe... parang insurance scam, odds of OFWs dying is rather low, but they'll collect millions of USD "bond" every month, spend it, take its interest... pag may nadali nga na OFW, im 100% sure di din magagamit yung pera agad, magamit man, it won't be a $5000 funeral expense.

[uls]

The Phil. govt. is one big employment agency.

Against ang gobyerno sa direct hire kasi di sila kikita.

They govt wants all foreign employers to go thru the phil govt to get pinoy labor.

Ayaw ng gobyerno bina-bypass sya...

OFWs collectively is one big milking cow.

Tingnan nyo lang ang mga "fees" na kinokolekta sa mga OFW.

The govt is realizing they are losing money to direct hire.

That's why the govt is trying to regulate direct hire.

[mhelskie]

mejo naguluhan lang ako dun sa "number of direct employee would not exceed 5", so pano pag company ung kumuha? pag pang anim ka sayang ang opportunity.

I think bukod sa sinasabi nilang "protection" para sa mga OFW, iniiwasan din nila ang brain drain sa pinas(duh?!). E ang kaso pahirapan maghanap ng work dito kahit may pinag aralan tayo hehe. E nung nagkaroon ng ban sa pagpapadala ng OFW sa Iraq, may mga nakakatakas pa din, dahilan ng mga tumatakas, d bale ng mamatay sa giyera, wag lang mamatay sa gutom (tsk tsk, sad truth)...

[freefries]

hay the same sentiments also...sabi nga ng hubby ko sinong luko luko ang magba-bond ng $3k (yung nga lang ang sabi ko sa kanya eh) tapos ang sahod lang ng tao ay mga $400 a month....ano ba yan??!!!! And now, its $5000 pala...malamang nga umatras na lang ang employer nyan at humanap na lang sa ibang country na wala ng masyadong kuskos balungos pa...hayyyyy ang gobyerno talaga natin humahanap ng pagkakakitaan, di talaga sila tumitigil hanggat di gumagapang sa lupa si juan dela cruz..

[roninblade]

fscking stupid. sino nanaman nag-isip ng kalokohan na 'to.

our biggest export nga is manpower di ba.
why make a law that can potential harm that?

[uls]

fscking stupid. sino nanaman nag-isip ng kalokohan na 'to.

our biggest export nga is manpower di ba.
why make a law that can potential harm that?

Coz there's an opportunity to make money.

There's money to be made every step of the way.

Even before the OFWs earn a single cent abroad... even before they leave the country, there is already an opportunity para perahan sila ng gobyerno.

The bureaucrats will keep on coming up with ways para perahan ang OFWs.

[jeffrocks]

I don't subscribe the Dept. of Labor/POEA's their point of view regarding this
matter...their reasoning is" to avoid abusive employers "for further problems
later that will be encountered...i think this will end up nowhere and scrap it
somewhere along the process...