Overseas Filipino workers (Photo courtesy of OFW Help Facebook) MANILA - Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Abdullah Mama-o confirmed Friday that he issued the department order lifting the ban on the processing and verification of documents for the deployment of domestic workers to Saudi Arabia. The move was opposed by Senator Franklin Drilon, who sided with the view of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III that DMW is not yet fully formed. In a radio interview, Mama-o said the law provides that DMW, in its initial operation, shall take over the staff, the assets, personnel, and some offices from DOLE and Department of Foreign Affairs. Drilon said there is a transitory provision in Republic Act (RA) 11641 that says DMW will only function if it will have a budget allocation in the 2023 General Appropriations Act, Implementing Rules and Regulations, and a staffing pattern. Mama-o countered that it is inappropriate to say that the DMW is not ye
(PNA file photo) MANILA-Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III has reminded Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) that they are still under his jurisdiction. In a memorandum to Labor Attaches Fidel Macauyag, Roel Martin, and Hector Cruz dated April 26, the DOLE chief said until the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is fully constituted, said offices will be under the DOLE. "In the light of the recent issuance of Department Order No. 04, dated 25 April 2022 by Secretary Abdullah D. Mama-o, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), all POLOs are hereby reminded that the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) and all POLOs shall remain under the direct supervision and control of the DOLE Secretary and shall maintain a status quo in their daily operations," he said. The DOLE chief noted that the DMW has to comply with Section 23 of Republic Act No. 11641, otherwise known as the Department of Migr
(PNA file photo) MANILA-Personnel of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) have been advised to observe the status quo in the performance of their duties and responsibilities until the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is fully constituted. In a memorandum, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III has authorized POEA chief Bernard Olalia to issue the appropriate orders to carry out the directive in the interest of service and to ensure the orderly operations of the agency. He said the DMW is yet to be fully constituted until there is an appropriation in the 2023 General Appropriations Act, an effective implementing rules and regulations, and a staffing pattern. Citing the conflicting positions on the constitution of DMW, Bello pointed to Administrative Code of 1987, stating that all disputes, claims, and controversies, solely between or among the departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, and instrumentalities of the national government
MANILA - Two new labor agreements that will open doors for Filipino workers are being discussed by the governments of the Philippines and Germany, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced on Monday. In a statement, Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the two nations are currently negotiating the possibility of recruiting more Filipino healthcare professionals and the deployment of 31 other skills and professions. The identified pilot sectors are hotel service, electrical engineering and mechanics, sanitation, heating and air conditioning, and childcare. He is optimistic that the labor agreements will soon be finalized. "We are hopeful that the two agreements could come to fruition within the term of President Duterte and mark a significant milestone in the history of Philippine-German bilateral relations," Bello said. At present, the country deploys Filipino nurses to Germany under the Triple Win Program. "Since 2013, we have deployed around 1,811 nurses un
Leading food and quick-commerce digital platform foodpanda and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) have partnered to help foodpanda’s delivery partners gain access to the government’s mandated healthcare benefits, in line with the implementation of the Universal Healthcare Program. According to Lhecks de Castro, finance director of foodpanda Philippines, the…