Press Release
February 23, 2008

KIKO CALLS POEA MC NO. 4 A BLUNDER

In what appears to be another burden for the Overseas Filipino Workers, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan blasted the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration for releasing Memorandum Circular No. 4 which he likewise calls a blunder committed by ill-advised government officials.

MC No. 4 which took effect on January 16 this year, requires employers to pay a $5,000 repatriation bond and to post a performance bond for the workers equal to three months' pay. The POEA issued MC No. 4 as additional requirements on direct hiring of Filipino professionals. "Just because our OFWs bring home the much needed dollars we have to bleed them dry by charging exorbitant fees from them," Kiko said.

"MC No. 4 mandates the foreign employers to get repatriation bonds and salary bonds from the Philippine government for each Filipino employee they hire. If I were the foreign employer I would rather hire other nationalities over a Filipino because I don't want to pay a steep price, or I may hire a Filipino but will pass on to him the additional expenses or requirements charged by the Philippine government from me. What else could be worse than that," Kiko added.

After OFWs criticized and complained about the stricter guidelines for direct hiring of workers, POEA suspended the memo on employers' $5,000 repatriation bond. "This is a blunder. The reason why Filipinos go abroad is for them to work there so they can earn higher wages. Tapos ang gagawin natin, papatawan natin ng kung anu-anong mga expenses kasi dollar earner sila? OFWs should not be the milking cow of our government. Naghihirap sila doon, tulungan nating mapakinabangan ng mga pamilya nila iyong kinikita nila."

"While the POEA suspended MC No. 4 until further notice, if it cannot be amended, it should be totally scrapped. We should look after the welfare of our OFWs and their families. MC No. 4 is blunder. It must be reviewed thoroughly otherwise let's just get rid of it."

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