Following discovery of an “anomaly” within the agency involving the illegal deployment of directly hired OFWs, The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has launched an internal investigation regarding incidents involving their own personnel.
“Nag-create na talaga ng fact-finding to investigate the alleged anomaly ho. Pina-fasttrack ho namin ‘yan,” GMA News quoted POEA deputy administrator Jocelyn Sanchez as saying.
Sanchez added that, “Yung proseso, marami ‘yung mga dapat i-take into consideration ng ating fact-finding.”
The report said the DOLE discovered that despite the ban on direct hires, some OFWs not covered by existing exemptions have been deployed without passing through POEA-accredited recruitment firms.
Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment Silvestre Bello III said he already had a list of POEA officials who allegedly took bribes to allow OFWs who do not qualify for direct hiring to leave the country with Overseas Employment Certificates (OEC).
Section 123 of POEA rules and regulations states that “No employer shall directly hire an overseas Filipino worker for overseas employment.” This rule, however, does not cover highly-skilled workers like doctors and nurses.
Under Section 124, those allowed to directly hire OFWs are members of the diplomatic corps, international organizations, heads of states and government officials with the rank of at least deputy minister, and other employers as may be allowed by the DOLE Secretary.
