Taiwan's lifting of entry suspension to benefit 40K Filipinos — DOLE’s Bello

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Tuesday that Taiwan’s lifting of entry suspension for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) beginning next week will provide opportunities for some 40,000 people.

Bello issued the statement after Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center announced on Monday that it would open its doors to Filipino migrant workers starting February 15.

"We thank Taiwan for welcoming once more our kababayan in their various employment industries starting February 15. This is a valuable post-Valentine gift to our OFWs and their families," the Labor chief said.

"We also laud Taiwan's continuing review of its labor rules to protect migrant workers' rights, including the Filipinos," he added. 

For his part, Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) -Taipei Labor Attaché Cesar Chavez told Bello that the move is the second phase of the Migration Project in which migrant workers, including Filipinos, will be allowed entry into Taiwan.

Chavez said migrant workers must strictly follow Taiwan's Central Epidemic Center guidelines. 

"Filipino workers should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before they enter Taiwan," Chavez said.

Employers should arrange a hotel to quarantine arriving migrant workers.

After completing the 14-day quarantine, they should stay in the same hotel for seven days of self-health management before going to the workplace.

"Both workers and employers must strictly follow and abide with the Central Epidemic Command Center epidemic prevention measures, rules, and guidelines," Chavez said.

Other epidemic measures should be fully observed, including RT-PCR testing and one-person one-room isolation before entering the country, according to the Taipei labor attaché.

Medical insurance is also needed in case of confirmed cases, and RT-PCR testing is likewise immediately required after entry to Taiwan, Chavez said.

The Taiwanese command center also said that quarantine is an "important key to prevent the COVID-19 epidemic."

Employers are urged to strictly follow and abide by the Ministry of Labor's Guidelines for Employers Hiring Migrant Workers.

The Taiwanese epidemic center cautioned that if the employer fails to comply with any of the provisions and other relevant guidelines, that will be tantamount to a violation of the Employment Service Law and may result in the revocation of their employment permit.  — VBL, GMA News