MikeLigalig.com

Amita Legaspi
GMANews.Tv

Philippine labor officials overseas had been instructed to take stock of protective mechanisms that would ensure repatriation and payment of salaries of overseas Filipino workers.

Labor Secretary Arturo Brion on Tuesday said the Philippine Overseas Labor Officers in 35 sites across the globe with high concentration of Filipinos had been mobilized to verify if foreign governments in their respective areas of jurisdiction require employers hiring Filipinos to guarantee protective mechanisms for the welfare of the workers.

The inventory was intended to widen the exemption to the payment of repatriation and performance bonds of up to $8,000 mandated under Memorandum Circular No. 4 issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration effective Jan 15, 2008.

Brion said POLOs Italy, Geneva and Hong Kong have so far confirmed that the requirements guaranteeing repatriation assistance and payment of salaries to OFWs are strictly complied with by employers there.

During last Friday's meeting of the POEA board, foreign employers in Italy, Hong Kong and Canada directly hiring Filipinos were exempted from the payment of repatriation and performance bonds after finding out that there were already sufficient welfare protection for foreign workers in these countries.

MC No. 4 provides for new regulations on direct hiring of OFWs. It requires foreign employers to cover for the US$5,000 repatriation bond and performance bond equivalent to three months salary of the OFW. The requirements aim to strengthen the protective mechanisms for OFWs, Brion asserted.

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