Labor Education for OFWs in Korea

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Korea that aims to protect the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) working under the Employment Permit System (EPS) in the country.

According to POEA Administrator Rosalinda Baldoz the labor education will also lessen labor disputes between the OFWs and their Korean employer.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) emphasize the need to educate foreign workers, including Filipinos, in occupational safety and health, and Korean labor laws such as the Labor Standards Act, Minimum Wage Act, and the Foreign Employment Act, particularly during their pre-departure training.

Several seminars regarding occupational safety and health and Korean labor laws have been conducted for Filipino community leaders who currently work under the EPS-Korea.

The MOU was signed by DOLE Undersecretary Luzviminda Padilla, Baldoz, and KLEI President Han Seung Sun signed the MOU at the POEA office on May 2.

Source:
PIA

Good News for OFWS in Middle East

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) can study computer related courses while working in their host country since the AMA International University has opened in Bahrain and in June another university will be opened in Jeddah.

The university in Bahrain offers computer studies, courses in engineering, arts and sciences, business administration and some graduate study programs.

The AMA University in Jeddah will offer Bachelors of Science in Computer Education, Information Technology, and Business Administration for OFWs and their children. Unfortunately, they can only take up the first two years of college since Jeddah will not allow a university to operate there. He said they have to complete their college degrees in the Philippines.

Deployment ban in Jordan not yet lifted

Contrary to my previous post, Deployment Freeze of DH in Jordan Lifted, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) denied reports that the deployment ban in Jordan has been lifted.

Due to some reports of abuse of Filipino workers DoLE freeze deploying of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Jordan. The government agency has also denied that the two countries, Philippines and Jordan has signed a memorandum that lifts the ban.

Incentive program for victims of illegal recruitment

Administrator Rosalinda Dimapilis Baldoz is encouraging victims of illegal recruitment to avail of the POEA’s incentive program in filing cases against their recruiters as she observed that most illegal recruitment cases do not prosper in courts because of desistance of the complainants.

Baldoz said many illegal recruitment cases are dismissed due to complainants’ disinterest to pursue the case or their inability to pay the required docket fees. Most often, after filing the cases, victims would not continue participating in court proceedings, accepting instead measly sum of settlement money.

The POEA’s incentive program hopes to perk up complainants’ interest in illegal recruitment cases by providing assistance to victims and witnesses through the payment of docket fees and other court related expenses.

As a bonus, victims and witnesses availing of the program shall be given priority for overseas employment at no cost, Baldoz said.

“It is very disappointing to see illegal recruitment cases we have helped build up being dismissed and archived because the complainants lost interest or accepted settlement money to drop the case,” said Baldoz.

Baldoz cited a case filed in Manila which was already in the pre trial stage when one of the accused offered the complainant P70,000 as settlement money. The victim readily accepted the money because she paid the accused P30,000 only.

POEA

Manitoba Nominee Program

Skilled workers are encouraged to apply to immigrate under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program. There are special options for international students, people with family here, and those with job offers.

Who can apply

Applicants to the MPNP must be able to justify why they should be employ in Manitoba. Skilled workers applying for MPNP must have:

• sufficient training and work experience in your occupation
• sufficient language ability to begin working soon after arrival
• settlement supports in Manitoba to assist you upon your arrival

More information:

Manitoba Nominee Program

UAE adds Hepatitis C to list of deportable diseases

Effective July 1, 2008, the United Arab emirates will consider hepatitis C a deportable disease in addition to the present list that includes HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis B. The new test applies to all expatriates applying for residency and labor visas, including renewal. Anyone who tests positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV) will be deported.

From:
POEA

How to Apply a Malaysian Visa

Experience Asia in Malaysia...

Do you want to visit the land of many cultures, wonders and attractions and stopover in some of the world’s best beaches and diving spots? Then you got to secure yourself a Malaysian visa.

Malaysian Visa
There are three types of Malaysian visa which are issued by the Malaysian Government for foreign nationals who want to enter Malaysia. These are the single entry visa, multiple entry visa and the transit visa.

Single Entry Visa
The single entry visa is valid for a single entry and will last for three months from the date issued. This is issued for foreign nationals who will enter Malaysia for a social or business visit.

Multiple Entry Visa
The multiple entry visa is valid from three months up to 12 months upon the date of issuance. This is issued to foreign nationals who will enter Malaysia for a purpose of business or government to government matters.

Transit Visa
The transit visa is issued to foreign nationals who require a visa to enter Malaysia on transit to other countries. While those foreign nationals on transit without leaving the airport precincts and who continue their journey to the next destination with the same flight does not require a transit visa.

How to Apply Visa
Application for Malaysian visa is done at the Malaysian Missions in your country or in the British High Commission or Embassy if there is no Malaysian Missions that has been established in your country yet.

Requirements
The applicant should apply personally together with the following documents:

• Passport or Travel Document
• Form IM.47 (3 copies)
• Three (3) passport sized photographs
• Return or onward - journey traveling ticket
• Proof of sufficient funds

For complete details of the article please click below:

How to Apply a Malaysian Visa

Warning for OFWs in UK

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) warned all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to be wary of individuals recruiting workers bound for United Kingdom (UK). The Philippine Embassy in London reported to that an internet scam is targeting OFWs.

According to Edgardo Espiritu, Philippine Ambassador to UK, the scammers pretend to be officials of the British Border and Immigration Agency (BIA), a unit of the British Home Office. The BIA manages the migration of foreigners to UK.

Espiritu also added that the criminal syndicates carry the official address of the BIA in their internal communications but use email addresses obtained from commercial internet and email service providers. Added to that is they are using names of other British or Filipino government agencies in their deceitful activities.

Con artists asked the unsuspecting victim to pay for their service via the legitimate commercial money remittance service providers operating all over the major cities in the Philippines.

“Filipino workers who have received invitation to work in the United Kingdom through the internet are advised to consult with POEA to verify if the recruitment agency is licensed to deploy workers to the UK,” Espiritu said.

Espiritu also emphasize that if the artist asked them to settle their payments prior to their deployment, the transaction is considered suspicious and they should stop dealing with the recruiter.

Statistics shows that there are some 200,000 Filipinos mostly nurses and caregivers in the British national health system, in the United Kingdom.

The new Point-Based System in UK strictly monitors the entry of non-European Union workers.

Wage hike for DHs in Hong Kong

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) announced that the monthly salary of domestic helpers (DHs) in Hong Kong will increase in June.

Acting Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said that the Hong Kong officials will determine the amount of wage hike of foreign maids, including Filipina DH when the statistical data on consumer price index, gross domestic product and other economic indicators was release at the end of the month.

Permanent Secretary for Labor and Welfare Matthew Cheung of the Government of the Hong Kong said to Roque that he will inform the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong about the wage increase before the formal announcement by government officials.

Currently, foreign DHs earn HK$3,480 a month.

Deployment Freeze of DH in Jordan Lifted

The Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Julius Torres said that the 15,000 Filipino household workers in Jordan can now return to work due the two-month freeze on the deployment in the Kingdom.

The deployment of Filipino household workers in Jordan was freeze due to reports of abuse, including non-payment of wages, maltreatment and rape. Which Jordan denies saying that the problem is with their residency.

Filipino domestic helpers in Jordan will now earn $US400 a month as compare to their previous monthly salary of $150.

There is also an agreement that Jordan government will protect the human rights of Filipinos working in the kingdom as agreed by the Human Rights Commissioner General of Jordan Shahir Bak and Ambassador Torres.