Migrant group asks Labor dept. to require recruitment and manning agencies to submit list of nominated insurance providers for OFWs
A group of Filipino migrant workers in the
On a letter dated 24 October address to DoLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona convey its appreciation when the former recently issued a warning to recruitment and manning agencies not to pass on to OFWs the cost of the required insurance coverage in line with the provision of the new Migrant workers law or Republic Act No. 10022.
“We are hoping that by this statement, erring recruitment and manning agencies are preempted to dupe aspiring OFWs and OFWs alike, and prevent them to circumvent the insurance provision of RA 10022,” Monterona said.
Monterona urges the Labor secretary to require licensed recruitment and manning agencies to submit a list of their nominated Insurance providers in relation to Sec.4, Qualification of Insurance companies, set-forth by the Omnibus Rules and Regulations Implementing the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, as Amended by R.A. No. 10022.
“We believe it is within the regulatory functions of the DoLE-POEA to look into the qualifications of the Insurance companies that have been nominated by recruitment and manning agencies to provide insurance to their deployed OFWs abroad,” the Saudi-based OFW leader averred.
He added requiring recruitment and manning agencies to submit their nominated insurance providers would prevent conflict of interest and possible collaboration between them in circumventing the insurance provision of R.A.10022.
Burdensome compulsory OWWA membership fee
Monterona also raised the issue of OFWs compulsory membership to OWWA. The government charges $25 (equivalent to Php.1,109 on current dollar-peso conversion) to every departing OFWs before issuing the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC).
“We are urging your good office to look on the matter of charging OFWs the cost of their membership to OWWA,” he added.
Monterona said like OFWs insurance, the $25 membership to OWWA should not be solely charged to OFWs.
Monterona cited the explanation taken from OWWA website (http://www.owwa.gov.ph/news/2009/07/faq/#fundsource), OWWA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), which states:
What constitutes OWWA's found source?
OWWA's fund is a single trust fund pooled from the US$25 membership contributions of foreign employers, land-based and sea-based workers, investment and interest income, and income from other sources.
Monterona said it will be a big help to OFWs especially to household service workers and construction workers, who are only earning US$260 to 400 monthly, if the DoLE-POEA would ask their employer through its licensed recruitment agencies in the
Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 978 012
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