By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) strictly required all Philippine licensed recruitment agencies and manning agencies to closely monitor and provide assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and seafarers affected by the corona virus disease (COVID-19).
POEA administrator Bernard Olalia, in memorandum circular No. 08 series of 2020, issued the reminder “in view of the rapid spread of the coronavirus disease affecting Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) across the globe.”
Pursuant to POEA Memorandum Circular No. 12, Series of 2018 and Memorandum Circular No. 09, Series of 2019, Olalia said that all Philippine recruitment agencies (PRAs) and licensed manning agencies (LMAs) are “required to closely monitor and report the status and condition of your deployed Filipino workers.”
The PRAs are also directed to “coordinate with the concerned Philippine Overseas Labor Office in extending the needed assistance to the affected workers.” Likewise, Olalia noted that all PRAs and LMAs are “directed to provide assistance to newly hired OFWs and joining crew whose flight schedules were cancelled or crew change was deferred by their respective employers/principals, and have been stranded in Metro Manila, due to the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.”
Olalia noted that the assistance to be given by PRAs and LMAs to affected OFWs “should not be limited to temporary accommodation, food, and transportation back to their provinces” in coordination with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). These incidents, he added, should also be reported to the Welfare and Employment Office via electronic mail (weo@poea.gov.ph or wsb@poea.gov.ph) using the a reporting format set by POEA.
“Failure to comply with this issuance shall constitute a violation of the reportorial requirements provided by the POEA Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Landbased and Seabased Overseas Filipino Workers of 2016,” Olalia said. This, he added, “shall warrant the filing of appropriate administrative sanctions.”
On Sat, Mar 28, 2020 at 1:08 PM MB Online <mb.online.ph@gmail.com> wrote:
POEA asks recruitment agencies to assist, closely monitoring OFWs affected by COVID-19
By MERLINA HERNANDO-MALIPOT
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) strictly required all Philippine licensed recruitment agencies and manning agencies to closely monitor and provide assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and seafarers who are affected by the corona virus disease (COVID-19).
POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia, in memorandum circular No. 08 series of 2020, issued the reminder “in view of the rapid spread of the coronavirus disease affecting Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) across the globe.”
Pursuant to POEA Memorandum Circular No. 12, Series of 2018 and Memorandum Circular No. 09, Series of 2019, Olalia said that all Philippine recruitment agencies (PRAs) and licensed manning agencies (LMAs) are “required to closely monitor and report the status and condition of your deployed Filipino workers.”
The PRAs are also directed to “coordinate with the concerned Philippine Overseas Labor Office in extending the needed assistance to the affected workers.” Likewise, Olalia noted that all PRAs and LMAs are “directed to provide assistance to newly-hired OFWs and joining crew whose flight schedules were cancelled or crew change was deferred by their respective employers/principals, and have been stranded in Metro Manila, due to the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.”
Olalia noted that the assistance to be given by PRAs and LMAs to affected OFWs “should not be limited to temporary accommodation, food and transportation back to their provinces” in coordination with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). These incidents, he added, should also be reported to the Welfare and Employment Office via electronic mail (weo@poea.gov.ph or wsb@poea.gov.ph) using the a reporting format set by POEA.
“Failure to comply with this issuance shall constitute a violation of the reportorial requirements provided by the POEA Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Landbased and Seabased Overseas Filipino Workers of 2016,” Olalia said. This, he added, “shall warrant the filing of appropriate administrative sanctions.”