The Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA)’s announcement of total ban of deploying overseas Filipino workers (OFW) to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) left around 300 OFWs without source of income.
The POEA received a report in 2017 that some Filipino health workers in Chuuk State Hospital are overworked and underpaid.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) tried to negotiate with the hospital but it reportedly refused to work with them, leading to the total ban.
According to POEA administrator Bernard Olalia, they implemented the ban because if the Micronesian government could not protect the rights of the OFWs, then deploying OFW to work in private hospitals in FSM could be worse.
Meanwhile, the POEA suggested that OFWs can apply in establishments in the UK, Saudi Arabia and Japan.
OFWs who are only on vacation from the Micronesia will also not be allowed to return, reported ABS-CBN.
