Lilac Center slams DOLE for ‘midnight’ ban on new OFW's
For suspending the processing of all new applications for overseas employment
certificates (OEC's), including those of direct hire workers, the Lilac Center for Public
Interest slammed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), saying the suspension
is tantamount to an admission that the government specifically the DOLE and the Philippine
Overseas Employment Administration, is utterly helpless and inutile in curbing the activities
of illegal recruiter.
The Department Order No. 185 S of 2017 issued
In Department Order No. 185 S. of 2017 issued 9 November 2017, DOLE Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III suspended for 15 days the processing of all new applications for OECs “in view of persistent reports of illegal recruitment activities, including direct
hires (sic); and in order to protect to public from pernicious activities of unscrupulous individuals preying on Filipinos desiring to work overseas”.
According to Nicon F. Fameronag, Lilac Center president, the order could affect
thousands of OFWs who have gone through the POEA’s legal processes and upset
their social equilibrium. Many OFWs, he said, are dreaming of working abroad for a
better life, and the DOLE order abruptly, and without warning, cuts short this dream.
thousands of OFWs who have gone through the POEA’s legal processes and upset
their social equilibrium. Many OFWs, he said, are dreaming of working abroad for a
better life, and the DOLE order abruptly, and without warning, cuts short this dream.
“This is a midnight policy. Besides, you don’t burn a whole house because a part of
it is ridden with termites,” Fameronag, a former DOLE undersecretary for
employment, said of the DOLE order.
it is ridden with termites,” Fameronag, a former DOLE undersecretary for
employment, said of the DOLE order.
Fameronag said it this kind of policy and the manner and timing such policy was cooked up and issued that upsets businessmen and foreign investors in the country.
“There was certainly lack of consultation on the order. The suspension decision should have been best left to the province of the Governing Board of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration whose members, including the workers’ and licensed agencies’ representatives, were apparently not consulted,” Fameronag said.
“I will not be surprised if some legal eagles will challenge Sec. Bello’s order before
the courts because its basis is flimsy at best,” Fameronag said.
the courts because its basis is flimsy at best,” Fameronag said.
He explained that if the DOLE is so concerned about illegal recruitment activities,
what it should do is to empower and enable more the POEA’s anti-illegal recruitment branch (AIRB) by assigning it more personnel and money
so it can intensify and expand its anti-illegal recruitment campaign.
what it should do is to empower and enable more the POEA’s anti-illegal recruitment branch (AIRB) by assigning it more personnel and money
so it can intensify and expand its anti-illegal recruitment campaign.
The Lilac Center executive also doubted that the DOLE can get to the root cause
of illegal recruitment in only 15 days—the life span of D.O. 185.
of illegal recruitment in only 15 days—the life span of D.O. 185.
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