POEA names 76 countries friendly to OFWs' concerns

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has identified over 70 nations that seem friendly to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). In a resolution, POEA identified four countries in Africa, 21 in Americas, 32 in Europe, 17 in Asia Pacific, and two in the Middle East. The four-page ruling said the countries were named after meeting at least one of the three requirements provided for in Republic Act 10022 or the amended Migrant Workers Act. Sec. 3 of RA 10022 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 concluded a bilateral agreement or arrangement with the government on the protection of the rights of OFWs.

POEA identified these countries as:

• Albania
• Angola
• Argentina
• Australia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Belgium
• Belize
• Bolivia
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Canada
• Chile
• Columbia
• Costa Rica
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Ecuador
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Guam
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Kenya
• Laos
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxemburg
• Macau
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Marshall Islands
• Mexico
• Myanmar
• Namibia
• New Zealand
• Northern Marianas
• Oman
• Palau
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Russian Federation
• San Marino
• Slovak Republic
• Slovenia
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• Suriname
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• The Netherlands
• Turkey
• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• Uruguay
• Venezuela
• Vietnam

However, the list does not include Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, where a large number of OFWs are found. POEA pointed out that not being included in the list does not necessarily mean that deployment of OFWs will be stopped as they will be continuously reviewed and evaluated. “In the meantime, the deployment of OFWs to these countries [not included in the list] shall continue except, where deployment bans is in effect," the resolution said. — JE, GMA News