Deployment Ban on Libya Still In Effect

Former strongman Muammar Gaddafi has been buried and Libya's new leaders have declared the oil-rich North African state "liberated".

However, deployment ban on Libya is maintained by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA.) The agency is awaiting the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) regarding the security situation in Libya.

The new leadership of Libya appears united in moving the nation towards democracy. There's a great chance that the transition will be peaceful and smoother. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) need only to wait just a little longer for the deployment ban to be lifted.

Meanwhile, recruitment agencies who are found to have deployed Filipino workers to Libya while the ban is still in effect will be administratively and criminally charged.

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Legal Assistance Fund for OFWs

In another breath of fresh legal air, following a landmark legal triump of a Filipina Domestic Helper in Hong Kong for her permanent residency status, the Philippine government is fully restoring the legal assistance fund for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the 2012 budget.

OFWs have reason to be glad about recent legal news.
Image from Dreamstime Free Photos

What is the legal assistance fund for OFWs?

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) uses the fund to help detained OFWs by paying for lawyers, bail, “and other costs associated with going to court."

According to law, the fund should be formed by:

• P50 million from the President’s contingency fund
• P30 million from the Presidential Social Fund
• P20 million from the trust fund of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration

It will be run by the DFA's Legal Assistant for Migrant Workers, who takes charged in “the provision and overall coordination of all legal aid services to OFWs and other Filipinos abroad." [Source]

It is high time that the Philippine government prioritize giving OFWs their due legal aid. After all, they are an integral contributor to the Philippine economy.

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OFW Deployment to Bahrain Resumes

The State of National Safety in the Kingdom of Bahrain was lifted on June 1, 2011 and the DFA consequently downgraded the security classification from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1.

Here's hoping that the recent resumption of deployment processing for Bahrain-bound OFWs at the POEA will become permanent.

Also, OFWs should be aware of DFA Alert Level Guidelines and check to see if their destination countries fall on any of the alert level.

This site prays for the safety of all OFWs and encourages them to heed the government's authority involving deployment ban and repatriation from countries experiencing strife.

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6 Countries OFWs Should Not Look (or worse, Come) For Jobs at the Moment

UPDATE [March 17, 2011]:
In a memorandum, DOLE Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz ordered Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) administrator Carlos Cao Jr. to “immediately effect the deferment in the processing and deployment of all newly hired workers to Bahrain."

- Source: GMANews.tv

UPDATE [March 11, 2011]:

Deployment of overseas Filipino workers to Bahrain is now allowed, both for returning workers and new hires, as per POEA Advisory No. 10.

There are six countries that Overseas Filino Workers (OFWs) are advised not to look for employment at the moment because of civil unrest and political instability. They are Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Libya, Tunisia & Yemen.

The raging unrest in these countries has posed a great problem to Filipinos currently working there - for their safety & repatriation back home. And as such, job seekers are advised to look for jobs elsewhere until things become peaceful and normal again.

GMAnews TV has this nice infographic about the said countries and other relevant data.

Project head and text: Paolo Ferrer
Graphics: Analyn Perez
Research: GMA News Research with reports from Reuters

The turn of events has been rather unfortunate. Add to that the virtually freeze-hiring in Taiwan. But Filipinos are known to be resilient.

I trust that these sad developments will only make OFWs more wiser into which countries are safer and stable for employment.

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POEA Appeals for Loan Collection Deferment for Taiwan-Bound OFWs

The POEA thru Administrator Carlos Cao Jr. appealed to recruitment agencies and lending companies to understand the current plight of Taiwan-bound OFWs and defer collection of loan payments until such time that they are deployed and are able to receive their first salary.

Due to the rift between the Philippines and Taiwan that started last month, Taiwan-bound OFWs were required to submit additional documents before a work visa is issued. This resulted to longer processing time. Thus, it would be a while before these OFWs can afford to pay for their loans.

Taiwan-bound OFWs surely deserves some breaks in their current predicament.

Last week, the government has set up special windows in five key government agencies (DFA, NSO, NBI, SSS & PhilHealth) to help Taiwan-bound OFWs. Those special windows will help expedite the processing of documentary requirement in compliance with Taiwan's stricter regulations for issuance of work visa.

These efforts to ease the difficulties of Taiwan-bound OFWs are welcome. However, the best scenario would be the quick resolution of the Taiwan-PHL row for the benefit of these OFWs and their families.

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Currency Exchange Facility For Repatriated OFWs from Libya Set by BSP

UPDATE [April 29, 2011]:
For repatriate OFWs from Libya (or if you know someone) have only until June 30, 2011 to avail of the currency exchange facility (CEF) to convert their Libyan Dinars to peso after the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)decided to terminate the CEF by July 1, 2011.

UPDATE [March 11, 2011]:

OFWs (from Libya) who went back to the Philippines, prior to the voluntary repatriation announced by the Department of Foreign Affairs on February 24, 2011, are not considered repatriated due to conflict, and therefore, not entitled to receive the Php 10, 000.00 grant.

- OWWA Memorandum of Instruction No. 001-B series of 2011

UPDATE [March 7, 2011]:

The BSP will accept Libyan dinar for conversion to Philippine pesos starting Monday, 07 March 2011 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. using the BSP exchange rates published daily in the BSP Reference Exchange Rate Bulletin.

The BSP and the banks require the OFWs to present pertinent documents such as passport or valid travel papers issued and signed by the Philippine Embassy and stamped with the date of the their arrival in the Philippines.

This Currency Exchange Facility (CEF) is available exclusively for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) displaced by the current situation in Libya. Each OFW will be allowed to exchange up to a maximum equivalent of ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) in Libyan dinars.

- BSP Media Release

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) repatriated from conflict-torn Libya will have the chance to exchange the Libyan dinars they brought with them as the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) approved today the opening of a Currency Exchange Facility.

Their Libyan currencies may be exchanged with the BSP or other banks but only up to a maximum of Php 10,000.00 equivalent of Libyan dinars and only within 7 days upon arriving in the country. OFWs who intend to do so will be asked to present documentary proof of their travel from Libya, primarily, their passports.

The peso-dinar exchange rate will be set by BSP and will be posted daily in the BSP Reference Exchange Rate Bulletin.

- Source: BSP Website

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OFW Deployment to Libya & Yemen Suspended - POEA

UPDATE [March 17, 2011]:
In a memorandum, DOLE Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz ordered Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) administrator Carlos Cao Jr. to “immediately effect the deferment in the processing and deployment of all newly hired workers to Bahrain."

- Source: GMANews.tv

UPDATE [March 11, 2011]:

Deployment of overseas Filipino workers to Bahrain is now allowed, both for returning workers and new hires, as per POEA Advisory No. 10.

The POEA has issued an advisory suspending the processing and deployment of all OFWs bound for Libya and Yemen until the political and security conditions in the said countries have normalized.

Administrator Carlos S. Cao, Jr. also instructed recruitment agencies deploying Filipino workers to the 3 countries to submit to POEA situation reports including a contingency plan of principals for their affected OFWs.

From the POEA Website.
Click here for the actual POEA Advisory.

Here's hoping for a positive turn of events and the resumption of deployment in these countries.

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49 Food Counter Attendants Jobs, Your Chance to Work in Canada

A quick check from the POEA website today to inquire about jobs in Canada revealed that there are 49 Job orders for Food Counter Attendants approved on January 27, 2011 to be deployed to Canada.

A food counter attendant is a general term for workers in the food industry. Basically, they take and serve orders of customers/patrons. They are employed in restaurants, hotels, bars, taverns, private clubs, banquet halls and similar establishments.

The 49 Job orders for Food Counter Attendants are listed under the agency, Mercan Canada Employment Phils. Incorporated. Further check from the POEA revealed the following contact information of the agency:


MERCAN CANADA EMPLOYMENT PHILS INC
Units 502 & 506
Galleria Corporate Tower
EDSA Cor Ortigas, Quezon City
Tel No/s : 9108010 - 14
Email Address : info@mercanrecruit.com
Website : www.mercanrecruit.com
Official Representative : JOSE EDUARDO S. YAZON
Status : Good Standing
License Validity : 7/21/2010 to 7/20/2014


Important NOTES:

The job order was taken from the POEA website today.
Please verify with the agency if the job order is still active or not.
Beware of illegal recruiters. Read about illegal recruitment here.
Report to the POEA anything that may involve illegal recruitment immediately.

Check the POEA Job Order search feature regularly for Food Counter Attendant jobs, Canada jobs or any other overseas jobs.

Image from here.

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POEA Advisory to Returning OFWs: Apply for OECs early!

Here's an advisory from Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).

ADVISORY TO RETURNING OFWS: (Worker-On-Leave / Balik-Manggagawa)

In order to facilitate the issuance of POEA travel exit clearances (OECs) to returning OFWs during the Christmas and New Year Holiday Seasons, please be informed of the following:

The POEA Balik-Manggagawa Processing Division experiences a surge in the number of applicants for OECs at the start of the Christmas peak season. This number is double the usual of 1,000 per day. Congestion and security are major concerns at the POEA premises. Complicating this situation is the number of OFW applicants who have immediate flights. In order to pace, declog or deload the processing of OECs, the POEA advises the following:

1. OFWs who have just arrived are encouraged to apply for their OECs early either at the POEA Main Office or at the nearest POEA Regional Offices and Extension Units, or avail of the OEC delivery service, so that they can avoid last minute problems prior to their return flights.

2. Departing OFWs who will return during the Christmas season are encouraged to apply for their OECs at the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) in their host countries prior to coming home. Or, they may apply for their OECs at the POEA Main or Regional Offices early prior to their return flights to their host countries.

3. Regular processing of OECs has been discontinued at the NAIA Labor Assistance Center (LAC) except for weekend or emergency exit within 5 days from entry. OFWs must apply for their OECs with the POEA Main or Regional Offices prior to their return flights.

4. OFWs who have not yet registered with the POEA are advised to bring their contract and/or certificate of employment, and other proofs of employment in order to be documented and be issued an OEC.

5. OFWs to regularly check the POEA website, http://www.poea.gov.ph for advisories especially before they book their flights

Please be guided accordingly.

Source: POEA

Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) serves as the Overseas Filipino Worker's travel exit clearance at the airport and immigration counters. The OEC is also an exemption for Overseas Filipino Workers from payment of travel tax and airport terminal fees.

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Executive Order 835: OFWs in the Middle East may now take PRC board exams in host countries

Through the Executive Order 835 issued by President Macapagal-Arroyo, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the Middle East May now take Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board exam in their host countries.

The Executive Order authorizes the PRC to conduct tests in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and other Middle East countries every year beginning in December.

Source: OFWs may now take board exams in host countries

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OFW Advisory: Beware of UK Student Visa

Student visas for UK? Beware!

The public is advised to be wary of an illegal recruitment practice luring Filipino students to go to London on a student visa. The recruiters were Filipinos based in London who promise them work in nursing homes for twenty (20) hours with pay as part of the curriculum.

The Philippine Embassy in London has reported that 34 Filipino students have been victimized by these recruiters. Police authorities raided the school for failure to open the courses offered to the students.

The students are supposed to be attending the London School of Health & Management Studies (LSHMS) after payment of 2,500 - 3,500 British Pounds or some US$5,000 – US$7,000 for tuition and student visa fees. The victims also paid additional 150 British Pounds for transportation expenses upon arrival in the United Kingdom.

Source:www.poea.gov.ph

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Filipina Worker in Hong Kong With Swine Flu (H1N1), Critical

A Filipina Worker in Hong Kong is in critical condition due to Swine Flu (H1N1).

HONG KONG—A Filipino maid in Hong Kong was in a critical condition on Sunday in the city's most severe human swine flu case to date, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The 37-year-old woman, who arrived in Hong Kong on June 28 to start her job as a domestic helper, developed a sore throat and fever a day later, a spokeswoman for United Christian Hospital told AFP.

She checked into the hospital on July 7 and was admitted to its intensive care unit in critical condition.

"It is the most severe swine flu case that Hong Kong has found," the spokeswoman said. [Source]

Hong Kong is one of the common destinations of Filipina Workers, mostly domestic helpers and caregivers.

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Recruiter sexually abused Filipina workers

Few days ago, a report said that three Filipinos were kidnapped in Cameroon Coast. Now, here's a report about Filipina workers who were sexually abused by a recruiter in Dammam, KSA.

MANILA, Philippines—Two Filipino female workers are preparing to file rape charges against their Arab recruiter in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, even as 20 more workers sought to be rescued from the same recruitment agency over reports that they have been sexually abused too, a global alliance of migrant workers said on Monday.

Garry Martinez, chairman of the Migrante International, said the two Filipina domestic helpers are awaiting the results of their medico-legal tests that would be used to file formal charges before the prosecutor’s office in Dammam against a certain Abu Khalid, owner and manager of Maqpoon Belahodood General Service Company which recruited them to work in Saudi.

Source: http://golablnation.inquirer.net

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Filipinos and Ukrainians seized off Cameroon

Working abroad is full of sacrifices and of course, danger. Here's another kidnapping incident involving OFWs.

YAOUNDE - Three Filipinos and two Ukrainians have been seized from a trawler off the Cameroon coast, a source close to an investigation into the abductions said Thursday.

The same source and a Cameroon newspaper had previously said the five abducted on Monday were all Chinese.

"After verification, it turns out that the hostages are not of Chinese nationality. Three are Filipinos and fishermen (and the others) are Ukrainians and mechanics," said the source, citing the head of a group that was allowed to visit the hostages.

Source:www.abs-cbnnews.com

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Statutory Minimum Wage for Foreign Domestic Workers in HK

Filipino workers, together with other Foreign Domestic Workers (FDW) in Hong Kong, are pushing for their inclusion to Statutory Minimum Wage.

MANILA, Philippines—Filipino workers in Hong Kong have bonded with workers from other foreign countries in pressing the Legislative Council (LegCo) of Hong Kong to include them in the law that would legislate the wage increase of workers.

The Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB) staged a protest rally in front of the LegCo building to air their concern as the first reading of the Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) was held.

Source: HK migrant maids entitled to minimum wage’

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Elevator crash in Saudi cuts off OFW's leg

MANILA, Philippines—An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) has lost his right leg in a work-related accident in Dammam, Saudi Arabia after an elevator fell on him recently, Senator Manny Villar said in a statement Monday.

Apolonio “Poly” de Castro Dimaculangan, 35, an electronics and mechanical technician from Batangas, told the office of Villar in an overseas call that he was repairing the company elevator when it suddenly crashed on him, amputating his right leg instantly on May 23.

Read full story: Elevator crash in Saudi cuts off OFW's leg

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1,000 Female Nurses for Ministry of Health - KSA

The MINISTRY OF HEALTH is in urgent need of qualified applicants for 1,000 female nurses

QUALIFICATIONS:

- BSN Graduate / Licensed
- With at least one year hospital experience
- Not more than 45 years of age

Walk-in applicants will be entertained at SRO on June 15-19, 2009

Benefits:

- Annual paid vacation
- Free round trip economy ticket
- With housing and transportation allowance
- Yearly renewal of contract

QUALIFIED APPLICANTS may personally submit the following at the Manpower Registry Division, Window M, Ground Floor, Blas F. Ople Building (Formerly POEA Bldg.), Ortigas Avenue corner EDSA, Mandaluyong City

- detailed resume with job description
- school credentials
- employment certificates
- passport copy
- two (2) pieces 2X2 recent picture

Applicants may also register online at www.poea.gov.ph or www.eregister.poea.gov.ph

Source: http://www.poea.gov.ph/Vacancies/090027.pdf

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Beleaguered OFWs in Libya seek RP gov’t help

MANILA, Philippines—An alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations based in the Middle East Sunday called on the government to help 122 OFWs in Libya who have accused their employer of illegally transferring their work site and making them sign new contracts that reduced their wages.

Source: http://globalnation.inquirer.net

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Illegal recruiter from New Zealand, facing charges

A New Zealande recruiter is facing charges of illegal recruitment and estafa in the Manila Regional Trial Court.

Florida Brown, of DSB International Travel Consultant Management Services, is facing charges of large-scale illegal recruitment and seven counts of estafa (fraud) in the Manila Regional Trial Court.

Source: Illegal Recruiter Faces Charges in Manila

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