Recruitment agencies must shoulder OFWs’ quarantine, RT-PCR expenses —Bello

On the heels of the Taiwanese government’s lifting of its ban on the entry of migrant workers, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Wednesday that recruitment agencies of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) must shoulder the required quarantine protocol expenses.

At a virtual press chat, Bello said the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) will release the guidelines on the deployment of OFWs to Taiwan, which opened its doors to migrant workers starting February 15.

“Dapat ‘yung agency kasi kumikita naman sila. Sagutin nila RT-PCR at quarantine ng mga worker,” the Labor chief said when asked who shall shoulder the cost of the required quarantine expenses.

The Taiwanese government requires migrant workers to comply with the 14-day quarantine plus another seven days for self-management before going to the workplace.

Other measures to be observed include RT-PCR testing and one-person one-room isolation before entering the country.

Migrant workers should also be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before they enter Taiwan.

On the requirement that only those who received World Health Organization-accredited COVID-19 vaccines shall be allowed entry, Bello said the Philippine government is already talking with the Taiwanese government to allow those who got WHO-accredited booster shots to enter the Asian country.

“Our MECO (Manila Economic Cultural Office) is already talking with the concerned ministry in Taiwan,” he said.

“I think hindi tayo mahihirapan diyan. Kailangan nila ang ating workers,” he added.

The Labor chief earlier said that Taiwan’s lifting of entry suspension for OFWs beginning next week will provide opportunities for some 40,000 people. 

Over 35,000 OFWs are awaiting job openings in Taiwan with 11,000 new hires and 24,000 replacements, MECO said.

About 160,000 Filipinos are currently working in Taiwan. — RSJ, GMA News