POEA to issue advisory on US H-2A, H-2B visa ban

The Philippine Overseas Employment Authority (POEA) on Tuesday allayed fears stemming from  the US government's decision to impose a one-year ban on hiring of Filipino workers in the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors.

POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia explained on GMA News TV program "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho" that the ban would likely affect a significant number of Filipinos as very few job utilized H-2B visa program for temporary non-agricultural jobs and H-2A visa for temporary or seasonal agricultural work.

Nevertheless, the POEA would issue an advisory on how the ban would affect applicants. 

“We will work with the other agencies like the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) on how to address this issue," Olalia said. "And then, of course, we will remind our OFW’s na on-process na hindi muna makakarating duon dahil sa ban. And we will try to assist these OFW’s na makakuha ng deployment in other markets abroad.”

A notice from the US Department of Homeland Security announced a ban on the entry of additional Filipino workers with H2-A and H2-B visas from January 19, 2019 to January 18, 2020 due to "severe" overstaying and human trafficking concerns.

According to data from the Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc. (PASEI), the top industries utilizing the H-2B visas included resort and hospitality services, retail sales, landscaping, food service and processing, as well as construction.   

Malacañang meanwhile raised the possibility of appealing the decision, though Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the government would only act after it received a report on the matter from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez.

Aside from the Philippines, Ethiopia and the Dominican Republic were also removed from the list of countries eligible for the visa programs. — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News