Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 1498
Introduced by HON. EDCEL LAGMAN
RESOLUTION
DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON OVERSEAS WORKERS AFFAIRS TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION, IN AIDE OF LEGISLATION, ON THE CONTROVERSY REGARDING THE NEW GUIDELINES ADOPTED BY THE PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT ADMINISTRATION (POEA) IMPOSING ADDITIONAL PRE-QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN DEPLOYMENT OF HOUSEHOLD SERVICE WORKERS (HSWs).
WHEREAS, the Governing Board of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has adopted the following new and additional pre-qualification requirements for the deployment abroad of Household Service Workers (HSWs):
1. Reverting the minimum age requirement for HSWs to 25 years old regardless of gender (Governing Board Resolution No. 4, Series of 2006, approved on October 4, 2006);
2. Increasing the entry level minimum monthly salary of HSWs from US$200 to US$400 as a condition for deployment overseas (Governing Board Resolution No. 5, series of 2006, approved on October 24, 2006);
3. Requiring HSWs to secure from the Technical Education and skills Development Authority (TESDA) a National Certificate for Household Service Workers attesting to the HSW’s skills qualification (Governing Board Resolution No. 5, series of 2006, approved on October 24, 2006); and
4. Requiring HSWs to secure as a condition for exit clearance a Certificate of Attendance in a Country-Specific Language and Culture Orientation seminar conducted by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) (Governing Board Resolution No. 8, series of 2006, approved on 24 October 2006),
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 1498
Introduced by HON. EDCEL LAGMAN
RESOLUTION
DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON OVERSEAS WORKERS AFFAIRS TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION, IN AIDE OF LEGISLATION, ON THE CONTROVERSY REGARDING THE NEW GUIDELINES ADOPTED BY THE PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT ADMINISTRATION (POEA) IMPOSING ADDITIONAL PRE-QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN DEPLOYMENT OF HOUSEHOLD SERVICE WORKERS (HSWs).
WHEREAS, the Governing Board of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has adopted the following new and additional pre-qualification requirements for the deployment abroad of Household Service Workers (HSWs):
1. Reverting the minimum age requirement for HSWs to 25 years old regardless of gender (Governing Board Resolution No. 4, Series of 2006, approved on October 4, 2006);
2. Increasing the entry level minimum monthly salary of HSWs from US$200 to US$400 as a condition for deployment overseas (Governing Board Resolution No. 5, series of 2006, approved on October 24, 2006);
3. Requiring HSWs to secure from the Technical Education and skills Development Authority (TESDA) a National Certificate for Household Service Workers attesting to the HSW’s skills qualification (Governing Board Resolution No. 5, series of 2006, approved on October 24, 2006); and
4. Requiring HSWs to secure as a condition for exit clearance a Certificate of Attendance in a Country-Specific Language and Culture Orientation seminar conducted by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) (Governing Board Resolution No. 8, series of 2006, approved on 24 October 2006),
WHEREAS, on January 28, 2007 about 5,000 Filipino HSWs, constituting the biggest mass action in recent demonstrations, marched on the streets of Hong Kong to protest against the adoption and imposition of the aforementioned new and additional pre-qualification requirements which, according to them, were approved without prior consultation with them and/or their representatives and leaders;
WHEREAS, Hong Kong is one of the top three destinations of Filipino HSWs where they comprise the largest group of foreign household service workers with over 120,000 employed HSWs;
WHEREAS, 135 groups of Filipino HSWs reportedly submitted a petition to labor officials of the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong protesting that:
1. The fee ranging from P5,000 to P10,000 being collected by the training centers accredited by TESDA and the additional P1,000 collected by TESDA-accredited assessment centers in order for them to be issued a National Certificate for Household Service Workers are additional financial burdens which they can ill afford as they are already incurring huge expenses in connection with their foreign employment;
2. The new minimum age and monthly salary requirements are bound to diminish their employment prospects in a very competitive foreign market; and
3. HSWs may be victimized by extortionists who would demand money from them in exchange for issuance of the subject certificates.
1. The fee ranging from P5,000 to P10,000 being collected by the training centers accredited by TESDA and the additional P1,000 collected by TESDA-accredited assessment centers in order for them to be issued a National Certificate for Household Service Workers are additional financial burdens which they can ill afford as they are already incurring huge expenses in connection with their foreign employment;
2. The new minimum age and monthly salary requirements are bound to diminish their employment prospects in a very competitive foreign market; and
3. HSWs may be victimized by extortionists who would demand money from them in exchange for issuance of the subject certificates.
WHEREAS, during the investigation of the controversy and pending thorough consultations with the Household Service Workers (HSWs) and their leaders and representatives, it is imperative that the challenged resolutions and issuances of the Governing Board of the POEA be deferred indefinitely;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs be directed to conduct an investigation, in aide of legislation, on the controversy regarding the new guidelines adopted by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) imposing additional pre-qualification requirements for foreign deployment of Household Service Workers (HSWs).
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that during the investigation of the controversy and pending thorough consultation with the Household Service Workers (HSWs) and their leaders and representatives, it is imperative that the challenged resolutions and issuances of the Governing Board of the POEA be deferred indefinitely.
Adopted.
(Originally Signed)
EDCEL C. LAGMAN
Adopted.
(Originally Signed)
EDCEL C. LAGMAN
No comments:
Post a Comment