POEA direct-hiring rules suspended in Singapore

The Philippine Embassy in Singapore has suspended the implementation of the new government guidelines on direct-hiring amid concerns that the policy will discourage foreign employers from hiring workers, mostly professionals, from the Philippines. Several concerned OFWs in Singapore sent GMANews.TV thru e-mail, an image of a memorandum supposedly posted at the Philippine embassy's bulletin board in the island-state. A welfare officer at the embassy said the same memorandum has also been posted at the embassy's website. “Please be informed that the Philippine Embassy is holding in abeyance [the] implementation of [Memorandum Circular] M.C. No. 4 (Series of 2007) regarding Guidelines on the Direct Hiring of Filipino Workers, until further notice," the memorandum dated January 30 read. The website advisory dated Jan. 30 further said: "All POLO processing will be done as before the issuance of MC 04-07. All queries will be replied to as soon as appropriate guidance is received from the Department of Labor (DOLE)." Under circular approved on Dec. 18, 2007 by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, foreign employers who want to directly hire Filipino workers need to have their applications screened by the labor attaché or the Philippine embassy and finally approved by the Labor secretary. It took effect last January 15. Philippine embassy officials in Singapore has scheduled a meeting with the Filipino community there on Feb. 16 to discuss the POEA policy on direct hiring. Welfare Officer in Singapore, Socorro B Castro told GMANews.TV that Ambassador Belen Fule-Anota will be present at the meeting. She however said that the embassy has not received reports that some Singaporean employers have already rejected Filipino job applicants as a consequence of the issuance of Memorandum Circular No. 4. Filipino workers across the globe have denounced the policy, particularly the requirement on foreign employers to post a repatriation bond of $5,000 plus $3,000 performance bond in hiring an employee from the Philippines. The performance bond will guarantee payment of the OFW’s salary for the duration of his or her job abroad. The repatriation bond will assure that in the event the OFW dies, he or she can be sent back to his or her country. An OFW in Singapore told GMANews.TV that some employers there have expressed reluctance to hire Filipino applicants after learning about the new direct-hiring policy. “Some of my friends who are seeking employment here were outright rejected after knowing that they were Filipinos. The employers were telling them that Filipinos are in the bottom of their priority after knowing of the new policy," said Van from Singapore. "I feel that it is not towards the benefit of the OFWs because if they did consider the OFWs, they should know that this will have a tremendous effect on employment of Filipino workers," according to Sheryl, also from Singapore. "The government can no longer provide good quality work to its people to improve their lives, now it is even hindering their chances to provide their families a better life," Mark said in an email. "Are we setting a level playing field against other nationalities who are competing with jobs overseas with this policy? Pag-isipan po natin kung makakatulong talaga ito o baka naman may iba pang paraan," Lynn Muyano asked. "This is a anti-OFW policy coming from the very organization created to help and improve OFWs. I hope that the POEA or POLO or whatever department it is will remove this policy," Gian Aka commented. Johnny E. Morales Jr. from Tengiz, Kazakhstan expressed hope that Philippine embassies and consulates in other countries would follow the Singapore initiative of suspending the implementation of Memorandum Circular No. 4. "This is a good start...and it would be even better if this will happen not only in Singapore but everywhere...and eventually scrap and abolish the whole POEA Circular Memo No.4," he said. - Mark J. Ubalde, GMANews.TV