The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) warned overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) against “job-hopping” or leaving their work without the permission of their employers.
Administrator Bernard P. Olalia said workers should abide by the contracts signed by them and their employers, reported Business Mirror.
“It has come to this administration’s attention that there are OFWs who leave their places of work without their employers’ permission and proceed to other neighboring states to look for new employment,” Olalia said in POEA Advisory 113, Series of 2021.
“This administration hereby reminds all OFWs to fulfill the obligations as contained in their employment contracts. They are reminded to abide by their contracts’ terms and conditions and their companies’ rules and regulations,” he added.
According to Olalia, OFWs who breach their contracts become irregularly documented workers.
“Thus, they may fall prey to unscrupulous individuals who can take advantage of their vulnerable situation,” Olalia said.
Olalia stressed that workers and employers who commit “unjustified breach of the employment contract” will be subject to administrative sanctions.
In the UAE, an employer can apply for an absconding ban if an employee fails to show for work for seven days. This may result to a one-year employment ban.
Articles 128 of the UAE Labor Law states: “Should the non-national worker leave work without a valid cause prior to the end of the contract with definite term, he may not get another employment even with the permission of the employer for a year from the date of abandonment of the work. No employer may knowingly recruit the worker or retain in his service during such period.”
