Pinoy Job Search: February 2008

SMC MANPOWER AGENCY PHILIPPINES COMPANY
Address 276 MC-ARTHUR,KARUHATAN , VALENZUELA CITY, VALENZUELA
Telephone : 02-2941994/561-0405
EMail: smcphilco(AT)yahoo.com.ph

Feb 8, 2008

RP, Manitoba of Canada to cooperate on HRD and deployment of OFWs to Manitoba

The Philippines and the Canadian Province of Manitoba agreed to cooperate on human resource development (HRD) and the deployment and protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Manitoba, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) today said.

Labor and Employment Secretary Arturo D. Brion and Premier Gary Doer of Manitoba signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Friday, Feb. 8, providing for cooperation on HRD and OFW deployment and protection between the DOLE and the Department of Labor and Immigration of the Government of Manitoba (LIM).

Doer is in Manila along other members of the Manitoba mission for a series of meetings with several Filipino business and community leaders from Feb. 8 to Feb. 12.

Brion said the MOU signing with DOLE is an important part of the Manitoba mission in the Philippines, noting that the MOU indicates Manitoba's recognition of Filipino workers who can fill its skills requirements.

He said the MOU is a milestone in the government's efforts to help Filipino workers find gainful employment opportunities that afford them ample protection from unscrupulous illegal recruiters and exploitative employers overseas.

Under the MOU, the Labor and Employment Secretary specified that the DOLE and the Government of Manitoba will not only cooperate on the orderly recruitment and deployment of OFWs to Manitoba but will also act in compliance with laws and regulations on labor and employment prevailing in both the Philippines and Manitoba.

Brion added that both parties will also prioritize cooperation on ensuring that the need of employers in Manitoba for OFWs with appropriate skills are met through training and credential recognition activities.

"The RP-Manitoba cooperation would pave the way for greater recognition of Filipino skills and qualifications, thereby, facilitating their employment and deployment to Manitoba," Brion said.

The DOLE Chief clarified that OFWs who would like to work in Manitoba will still have to apply for relevant vacancies through recruitment agencies authorized to recruit workers.

He said the DOLE and Manitoba would exchange information concerning legitimate Manitoba employers and registered recruitment or sending agencies in the Philippines. Manitoba will notify the DOLE of employers qualified to recruit and employ OFWs. The DOLE, on the other hand, will provide the LIM with a list of authorized sending agencies.

The DOLE, through the sending agencies, will develop mechanisms to facilitate the deployment of qualified OFWs to Manitoba.

DOLE and Manitoba will also explore projects to sustain and promote HRD in the Philippines. A working committee will be established to coordinate the activities of both parties.

source: Information and Publication Service

http://www.dole.gov.ph/news/details.asp?id=N000002158

Feb 3, 2008

DOLE clarifies policy on direct hiring

The Department of Labor and Employment yesterday clarified certain issues regarding the implementation of the policy on direct hiring of Filipino workers by foreign employers.

Labor Secretary Arturo D. Brion said some people who are against the policy are trying to sow confusion among overseas Filipino workers and foreign employers by giving false information about its implementing guidelines.

Brion said that contrary to what the critics say, employers will have to pay only the premium of the US$5,000 repatriation bond and performance bond equivalent to three months salary of the worker. The repatriation bond shall guarantee the actual cost of repatriation of remains of directly hired OFW following death from any cause, and actual cost incurred for repatriation from other causes such as violation or non-compliance with the contract among others. The performance bond shall guarantee compliance of the contract for its entire duration.

The bond shall be secured from any Philippine bonding company accredited by the Supreme Court. Premiums for the bonds shall be paid by the employer.

The foreign employer is also required to provide medical insurance to the worker at an amount equivalent to those provided to nationals of the host country.

The Secretary said the adoption of these new requirement is aimed at strengthening the protection mechanisms for the OFWs.

Brion said the new guidelines were issued to reinforce the provision of the Philippine Labor Code that prohibits the direct hiring of Filipino workers except for selected employers such as diplomats, heads of international organizations and other employers as may be approved by the Secretary of Labor and Employment.

According to Brion, " if this law is no longer a wise law, then the appropriate step is to secure an amendatory legislation. In the meanwhile, we have to apply the current law, adjusted by our rules to the extent allowable."

Under the existing POEA rules, the general procedure for the recruitment and deployment of OFWs is through POEA-licensed recruitment agencies. These agency-hired workers are protected under existing regulations such as bonding requirements for licensed recruitment agencies, which guarantees compliance to the terms of the employment contract, particularly relating to money claims of the workers.

In direct hiring, recruitment agencies are not involved and compliance to the contract is therefore dependent on the capability of the foreign employer.

However, Brion said the DOLE is open to exemptions from the total implementation of the POEA guidelines (MC 4, S2007) on a per country, employer or workers classification based on the request of the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs).

The POLO should be able to justify such exemptions based on the existing rules and regulations in the host country providing for the protection of the workers in the area of repatriation and repatriation bonds. The POLO should likewise be able to inform DOLE of the mechanisms on the effective implementation or enforcement of such laws and regulations.

POEA records show that in 2007, a total of 26,753 OFWs in the household and other services were directly hired by foreign employers. The biggest employer of directly hired household service workers was Italy at 5,564 followed by Canada and Spain, while the Middle East hired the most number of non-household service OFWs on direct hiring basis.

Source: Information and Publication Service

http://www.dole.gov.ph/news/details.asp?id=N000002155