The new list of countries that comply with Philippine government standards that protect overseas Filipino workers (OFW) does not include six top OFW destinations.
In May 2011, the POEA's Governing Board (GB) Resolution No. 2 listing 76 countries those were OFW-friendly.
Resolution No. 2 said, "In the meantime, the deployment of OFWs to these countries [not included in the list] shall continue except where deployment ban is in effect."
OFW-friendly countries
According to Section 3 of RA 10022, "the State shall allow the deployment of overseas Filipino workers only in countries where the rights of Filipino migrant workers are protected."
The section provides that the Philippines will allow deployment if the host country:
has existing labor and social laws protecting the rights of workers;
is a signatory to and/or a ratifier of multilateral conventions, declarations or resolutions relating to the protection of workers; and
has conducted a bilateral agreement or arrangement with the government on the protection of the rights of OFWs.
The POEA will publish the resolutions in two newspapers of general circulation and will take effect 15 days after publication.
Baldoz said the Philippine government can consider as 'compliant' countries taking positive, concrete measures to protect the rights of migrant workers based on the provisions of RA 10022.
She clarified that non-compliant countries may push for bilateral agreements with the Philippines to address the "non-compliances."
She also said Filipino workers can still be deployed to companies with international operations in non-compliant "unless there is an existing ban to that country.
The Philippine government has an existing deployment ban to conflict affected countries such as:
- Lebanon
- Nigeria
- Somalia
- Syria
- Iraq (Partial ban)
- Afghanistan (partial ban)
As of July 03, 2012, Philippine labor officials have added 32 countries - including conflict-hit Syria - to the list of territories that meet Philippine standards on the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Governing Board approved a resolution adding the 32 countries to the list.
"Under this qualification, the POEA may continue to deploy OFWs to these countries and the Department of Foreign Affairs will continue to negotiate for the better protection of household service workers even beyond 12 April 2012," Labor Secretary and POEA Governing Board chairperson Rosalinda Baldoz said in a news release.
Those who signed the resolution were Baldoz, POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac as governing board vice chairman, and Leonardo de Ocampo, governing board member.
Baldoz listed the new 32 OFW countries as:
- Algeria
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Botswana
- China
- Dominican Republic
- East Timor/Timor Leste
- Iran
- Saudi Arabia
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyz Republic/Kyrgyzstan
- Lesotho
- Maldives
- Micronesia
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Mozambique
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Qatar
- Serbia
- Solomon Islands
- Sri Lanka
- Syria (partial ban lifted)
- Swaziland
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- United Arab Emirates
- Yemen, and
- Zambia.
Baldoz said these countries have been certified by the DFA last May 24, 2012 after a recommendation was made by the Congressional Committee on Overseas Welfare Affairs chaired by Rep. Walden Bello.
Based on the recommendation, the countries were found "to be compliant without prejudice to negotiations for the protection of household service workers."
"The 32 countries bring to 184 the total number of countries already certified by the DFA out of 203 countries. Only 19 countries now remain to be non-certified," the DOLE said.
So far, the countries still not certified as OFW-friendly are:
- Afghanistan
- Chad
- Cuba
- Democratic People's Republic of Korea/North Korea,
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iraq
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Nepal
- Niger
- Palestine
- Somalia
- Uzbekistan
- Zimbabwe
- Monaco,
- Vatican (Holy See)
Out of these 19 countries, the Board has yet to receive the certifications for the Vatican and Monaco, Baldoz explained.
The certifications for Libya and Iraq are currently being reviewed amid latest developments that may lead to the amendment of their respective certifications.
"The POEA Governing Board notes that the DFA has yet to complete the review of its previous certifications issued for Iraq and Libya," Baldoz said.
Complete list of Countries where Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) are allowed to work (As of July 03, 2012)
- Albania
- Algeria
- Andorra
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burma
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- Congo, Republic of the
- Costa Rica
- Cote d'Ivoire
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- East Timor (Timor-Leste)
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Gabon
- Gambia, The
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Latvia
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macau
- Macedonia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico (United States of Mexico)
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Netherlands
- Netherlands Antilles
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Nigeria (partial ban lifted)
- Norway
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- South Korea (Republic of Korea)
- South Sudan
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States of America (USA)
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
In order for the listed 19 listed countries to be open for OFW, those countries must have to comply the standard required by the Philippines government.
East Asian countries like Japan and South Korea who have a construction business in the listed ban countries for OFW are not allowed to hire any Filipinos professionals and skilled workers.
