Ra 8042 vs. 10022
Ra 8042 vs. 10022
10022
Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO.8042, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
THE MIGRANTWORKERS AND OVERSEASFILIPINOS ACT OF 1995, AS
AMENDED, FURTHER IMPROVING THE STANDARD OF PROTECTION
AND PROMOTION OF THEWELFARE OF MIGRANTWORKERS,THEIR
FAMILIES AND OVERSEASFILIPINOS IN DISTRESS, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
An act to institute the policies of overseas employment and establish a higher standard of protection and Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
promotion of the welfare of migrant workers, their families and overseas Filipinos in distress, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE. - This act shall be known and cited as the "Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos
Act of 1995." Section 1. Paragraphs (a), (e), (g) and (h) of Section 2 of Republic Act. No. 8042, as amended, otherwise
known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, is hereby amended to read as
follows:
SEC. 2. DECLARATION OF POLICIES--
(a) In the pursuit of an independent foreign policy and while considering national sovereignty,
(a) In the pursuit of an independent foreign policy and while considering national sovereignty, territorial territorial integrity, national interest and the right to self-determination paramount in its relations with
integrity, national interest and the right to self-determination paramount in its relations with other other states, the State shall, at all times, uphold the dignity of its citizens whether in country or
states, the State shall, at all times, uphold the dignity of its citizens whether in country or overseas, in overseas, in general, and Filipino migrant workers, in particular, continuously monitor international
general, and Filipino migrant workers, in particular. conventions, adopt/be signatory to and ratify those that guarantee protection to our migrant workers,
and endeavor to enter into bilateral agreements with countries hosting overseas Filipino workers.
(b) The State shall afford full protection to labor, local and overseas, organized and unorganized, and
promote full employment and equality of employment opportunities for all. Towards this end, the State
shall provide adequate and timely social, economic and legal services to Filipino migrant workers.
(c) While recognizing the significant contribution of Filipino migrant workers to the national economy
through their foreign exchange remittances, the State does not promote overseas employment as a
means to sustain economic growth and achieve national development. The existence of the overseas
employment program rests solely on the assurance that the dignity and fundamental human rights and
freedoms of the Filipino citizens shall not, at any time, be compromised or violated. The State,
therefore, shall continuously create local employment opportunities and promote the equitable
distribution of wealth and the benefits of development.
(d) The State affirms the fundamental equality before the law of women and men and the significant
role of women in nation-building. Recognizing the contribution of overseas migrant women workers and
their particular vulnerabilities, the State shall apply gender sensitive criteria in the formulation and
implementation of policies and programs affecting migrant workers and the composition of bodies tasked
for the welfare of migrant workers.
(e) Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies and adequate legal assistance shall not be denied
to any persons by reason of poverty. In this regard, it is imperative that an effective mechanism be
instituted to ensure that the rights and interest of distressed overseas Filipinos, in general, and Filipino
migrant workers, in particular, documented or undocumented, are adequately protected and
safeguarded. (e) Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies and adequate legal assistance shall not be
denied to any person by reason of poverty. In this regard, it is imperative that an effective mechanism
(f) The right of Filipino migrant workers and all overseas Filipinos to participate in the democratic be instituted to ensure that the rights and interest of distressed overseas Filipinos, in general, and
decision-making processes of the State and to be represented in institutions relevant to overseas Filipino migrant workers, in particular, whether regular/documented or irregular/undocumented, are
employment is recognized and guaranteed. adequately protected and safeguarded.
(g) The State recognizes that the ultimate protection to all migrant workers is the possession of skills.
Pursuant to this and as soon as practicable, the government shall deploy and/or allow the deployment
only to skilled Filipino workers.
(h) Non-governmental organizations, duly recognized as legitimate, are partners of the State in the
protection of Filipino migrant workers and in the promotion of their welfare, the State shall cooperate (g) The State recognizes that the most effective tool for empowerment is the possession of skills by
with them in a spirit of trust and mutual respect. migrant workers. The government shall provide them free and accessible skills development and
enhancement programs. Pursuant to this and as soon as practicable, the government shall deploy and/or
allow the deployment only of skilled Filipino workers.
(I) Government fees and other administrative costs of recruitment, introduction, placement and
assistance to migrant workers shall be rendered free without prejudice to the provision of Section 36
hereof. (h) The State recognizes non-governmental organizations, trade unions, workers associations,
stakeholders and their similar entities duly recognized as legitimate, are partners of the State in the
protection of Filipino migrant workers and in the promotion of their welfare. The State shall cooperate
Nonetheless, the deployment of Filipino overseas workers, whether land-based or sea-based by local with them in a spirit of trust and mutual respect. The significant contribution of recruitment and
service contractors and manning agencies employing them shall be encouraged. Appropriate incentives manning agencies shall from part this partnership.
may be extended to them.
(a) "Migrant worker" refers to a person who is to be engaged, is engaged or has been engaged in a Section 2. Section 3, paragraph (a) of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is hereby amended to read as
follows:
renumerated activity in a state of which he or she is not a legal resident to be used interchangeably with
overseas Filipino worker.
(a) Overseas Filipino worker refers to a person who is to be engaged, is engaged or has been engaged
(b) "Gender-sensitivity" shall mean cognizance of the inequalities and inequities prevalent in society in a remunerated activity in a state of which he or she is not a citizen or on board a vessel navigating
between women and men and a commitment to address issues with concern for the respective interests the foreign seas other than a government ship used for miliatry or non-commercial purposes or on an
of the sexes. installation located offshore or on the high seas; to be used interchangeably with migrant worker.
(c) "Overseas Filipinos" refers to dependents of migrant workers and other Filipino nationals abroad who
are in distress as mentioned in Sections 24 and 26 of this Act.
I. DEPLOYMENT
SEC. 4. Deployment of Migrant Workers - The State shall deploy overseas Filipino workers only in
countries where the rights of Filipino migrant workers are protected. The government recognizes any of Section 3. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:
the following as guarantee on the part of the receiving country for the protection and the rights of
overseas Filipino workers:
SEC. 4. Deployment of Migrant Workers. The State shall allow the deployment of overseas Filipino
workers only in countries where the rights of Filipino migrant workers are protected. The government
(a) It has existing labor and social laws protecting the rights of migrant workers;
recognizes any of the following as a guarantee on the part of the receiving country for the protection of
the rights of overseas Filipino workers:
(a) It has existing labor and social laws protecting the rights of workers, including migrant workers;
(b) It is a signatory to multilateral conventions, declaration or resolutions relating to the protection of
migrant workers;
(b) It is a signatory to and/or a ratifier of multilateral conventions, declarations or resolutions relating
(c) It has concluded a bilateral agreement or arrangement with the government protecting the rights of to the protection of workers, including migrant workers; and
overseas Filipino workers; and
(c) It has concluded a bilateral agreement or arrangement with the government on the protection of
(d) It is taking positive, concrete measures to protect the rights of migrant workers. the rights of overseas Filipino Workers:
{Note: sub par. d, has been amended and the duty and obligations of the POEA are defined along Provided, That the receiving country is taking positive, concrete measures to protect the rights of
with their liabilities for non compliance.} migrant workers in furtherance of any of the guarantees under subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) hereof.
In the absence of a clear showing that any of the aforementioned guarantees exists in the country of
destination of the migrant workers, no permit for deployment shall be issued by the Philippine Overseas
Employment Administration (POEA).
The members of the POEA Governing Board who actually voted in favor of an order allowing the
deployment of migrant workers without any of the aforementioned guarantees shall suffer the penalties
of removal or dismissal from service with disqualification to hold any appointive public office for five (5)
years, Further, the government official or employee responsible for the issuance of the permit or for
allowing the deployment of migrant workers in violation of this section and in direct contravention of an
order by the POEA Governing Board prohibiting deployment shall be meted the same penalties in this
section.
For this purpose, the Department of Foreign Affairs, through its foreign posts, shall issue a certification
to the POEA, specifying therein the pertinent provisions of the receiving countrys labor/social law, or
the convention/declaration/resolution, or the bilateral agreement/arrangement which protect the rights
of migrant workers.
The State shall also allow the deployment of overseas Filipino workers to vessels navigating the foreign
seas or to installations located offshore or on high seas whose owners/employers are compliant with
international laws and standards that protect the rights of migrant workers.
The State shall likewise allow the deployment of overseas Filipino workers to companies and
contractors with international operations: Provided, That they are compliant with standards, conditions
and requirements, as embodied in the employment contracts prescribed by the POEA and in accordance
with internationally-accepted standards.
Section 4. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:
SEC. 6. Definition. For purposes of this Act, illegal recruitment shall mean any act of canvassing,
enlisting, contracting, transporting, utilizing, hiring, or procuring workers and includes referring,
contract services, promising or advertising for employment abroad, whether for profit or not, when
Sec. 6. DEFINITIONS. - For purposes of this Act, illegal recruitment shall mean any act of canvassing, undertaken by non-licensee or non-holder of authority contemplated under Article 13(f) of Presidential
enlisting, contracting, transporting, utilizing, hiring, procuring workers and includes referring, contact Decree No. 442, as amended, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines: Provided, That any
services, promising or advertising for employment abroad, whether for profit or not, when undertaken such non-licensee or non-holder who, in any manner, offers or promises for a fee employment abroad to
by a non-license or non-holder of authority contemplated under Article 13(f) of Presidential Decree No. two or more persons shall be deemed so engaged. It shall likewise include the following acts, whether
442, as amended, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines. Provided, that such non-license committed by any person, whether a non-licensee, non-holder, licensee or holder of authority:
or non-holder, who, in any manner, offers or promises for a fee employment abroad to two or more
persons shall be deemed so engaged. It shall likewise include the following acts, whether committed by (a) To charge or accept directly or indirectly any amount greater than that specified in the schedule of
any persons, whether a non-licensee, non-holder, licensee or holder of authority. allowable fees prescribed by the Secretary of Labor and Employment, or to make a worker pay or
acknowledge any amount greater than that actually received by him as a loan or advance;
(a) To charge or accept directly or indirectly any amount greater than the specified in the schedule of
allowable fees prescribed by the Secretary of Labor and Employment, or to make a worker pay any (b) To furnish or publish any false notice or information or document in relation to recruitment or
amount greater than that actually received by him as a loan or advance; employment;
(c) To give any false notice, testimony, information or document or commit any act of
misrepresentation for the purpose of securing a license or authority under the Labor Code, or for the
(b) To furnish or publish any false notice or information or document in relation to recruitment or purpose of documenting hired workers with the POEA, which include the act of reprocessing workers
employment; through a job order that pertains to nonexistent work, work different from the actual overseas work, or
work with a different employer whether registered or not with the POEA; {Note: POAEs obligation to
(c) To give any false notice, testimony, information or document or commit any act of misrepresentation protect illegal recruitment is defined}
for the purpose of securing a license or authority under the Labor Code;
(d) To include or attempt to induce a worker already employed to quit his employment in order to offer
him another unless the transfer is designed to liberate a worker from oppressive terms and conditions of
employment;
(d) To induce or attempt to induce a worker already employed to quit his employment in order to offer
him another unless the transfer is designed to liberate a worker from oppressive terms and conditions of (e) To influence or attempt to influence any person or entity not to employ any worker who has not
employment; applied for employment through his agency or who has formed, joined or supported, or has contacted or
is supported by any union or workers organization;
(f) To engage in the recruitment or placement of workers in jobs harmful to public health or morality
or to the dignity of the Republic of the Philippines;
(e) To influence or attempt to influence any persons or entity not to employ any worker who has not
applied for employment through his agency;
{Note: Par. (g) of RA 8042 has been erased}
(f) To engage in the recruitment of placement of workers in jobs harmful to public health or morality or
to dignity of the Republic of the Philippines; (h) To fail to submit reports on the status of employment, placement vacancies, remittance of foreign
exchange earnings, separation from jobs, departures and such other matters or information as may be
(g) To obstruct or attempt to obstruct inspection by the Secretary of Labor and Employment or by his required by the Secretary of Labor and Employment;
duly authorized representative;
(i) To substitute or alter to the prejudice of the worker, employment contracts approved and verified
(h) To fail to submit reports on the status of employment, placement vacancies, remittances of foreign by the Department of Labor and Employment from the time of actual signing thereof by the parties up to
exchange earnings, separations from jobs, departures and such other matters or information as may be and including the period of the expiration of the same without the approval of the Department of Labor
required by the Secretary of Labor and Employment; and Employment;
(i) To substitute or alter to the prejudice of the worker, employment contracts approved and verified by (j) For an officer or agent of a recruitment or placement agency to become an officer or member of the
the Department of Labor and Employment from the time of actual signing thereof by the parties up to Board of any corporation engaged in travel agency or to be engaged directly or indirectly in the
and including the period of the expiration of the same without the approval of the Department of Labor management of travel agency;
and Employment;
(k) To withhold or deny travel documents from applicant workers before departure for monetary or
(j) For an officer or agent of a recruitment or placement agency to become an officer or member of the financial considerations, or for any other reasons, other than those authorized under the Labor Code and
Board of any corporation engaged in travel agency or to be engaged directly on indirectly in the its implementing rules and regulations;
management of a travel agency;
(l) Failure to actually deploy a contracted worker without valid reason as determined by the
(k) To withhold or deny travel documents from applicant workers before departure for monetary or Department of Labor and Employment;
financial considerations other than those authorized under the Labor Code and its implementing rules
and regulations;
(m) Failure to reimburse expenses incurred by the worker in connection with his documentation and
processing for purposes of deployment, in cases where the deployment does not actually take place
(l) Failure to actually deploy without valid reasons as determined by the Department of Labor and without the workers fault. Illegal recruitment when committed by a syndicate or in large scale shall be
Employment; and considered an offense involving economic sabotage; and
(m) Failure to reimburse expenses incurred by the workers in connection with his documentation and
processing for purposes of deployment, in cases where the deployment does not actually take place
without the worker's fault. Illegal recruitment when committed by a syndicate or in large scale shall be
considered as offense involving economic sabotage.
Illegal recruitment is deemed committed by a syndicate carried out by a group of three (3) or more {Note: Par. (n), has been added. This defines prohibited acts, in addition to the acts enumerated
persons conspiring or confederating with one another. It is deemed committed in large scale if above.}
committed against three (3) or more persons individually or as a group.
(n) To allow a non-Filipino citizen to head or manage a licensed recruitment/manning agency.
The persons criminally liable for the above offenses are the principals, accomplices and accessories. In
case of juridical persons, the officers having control, management or direction of their business shall be
Illegal recruitment is deemed committed by a syndicate if carried out by a group of three (3) or more
liable.
persons conspiring or confederating with one another. It is deemed committed in large scale if
committed against three (3) or more persons individually or as a group.
In addition to the acts enumerated above, it shall also be unlawful for any person or entity to commit
the following prohibited acts:
(1) Grant a loan to an overseas Filipino worker with interest exceeding eight percent (8%) per annum,
which will be used for payment of legal and allowable placement fees and make the migrant worker
issue, either personally or through a guarantor or accommodation party, postdated checks in relation to
the said loan;
(2) Impose a compulsory and exclusive arrangement whereby an overseas Filipino worker is required to
avail of a loan only from specifically designated institutions, entities or persons;
(3) Refuse to condone or renegotiate a loan incurred by an overseas Filipino worker after the latters
employment contract has been prematurely terminated through no fault of his or her own;
(4) Impose a compulsory and exclusive arrangement whereby an overseas Filipino worker is required to
undergo health examinations only from specifically designated medical clinics, institutions, entities or
persons, except in the case of a seafarer whose medical examination cost is shouldered by the
principal/shipowner;
(5) Impose a compulsory and exclusive arrangement whereby an overseas Filipino worker is required to
undergo training, seminar, instruction or schooling of any kind only from specifically designated
institutions, entities or persons, except fpr recommendatory trainings mandated by
principals/shipowners where the latter shoulder the cost of such trainings;
(6) For a suspended recruitment/manning agency to engage in any kind of recruitment activity
including the processing of pending workers applications; and
(7) For a recruitment/manning agency or a foreign principal/employer to pass on the overseas Filipino
worker or deduct from his or her salary the payment of the cost of insurance fees, premium or other
insurance related charges, as provided under the compulsory workers insurance coverage.
The persons criminally liable for the above offenses are the principals, accomplices and accessories. In
case of juridical persons, the officers having ownership, control, management or direction of their
business who are responsible for the commission of the offense and the responsible employees/agents
thereof shall be liable.
In the filing of cases for illegal recruitment or any of the prohibited acts under this section, the
Secretary of Labor and Employment, the POEA Administrator or their duly authorized representatives, or
any aggrieved person may initiate the corresponding criminal action with the appropriate office. For this
purpose, the affidavits and testimonies of operatives or personnel from the Department of Labor and
Employment, POEA and other law enforcement agencies who witnessed the acts constituting the offense
shall be sufficient to prosecute the accused.
In the prosecution of offenses punishable under this section, the public prosecutors of the Department
of Justice shall collaborate with the anti-illegal recruitment branch of the POEA and, in certain cases,
allow the POEA lawyers to take the lead in the prosecution. The POEA lawyers who act as prosecutors in
such cases shall be entitled to receive additional allowances as may be determined by the POEA
Administrator.
The filing of an offense punishable under this Act shall be without prejudice to the filing of cases
punishable under other existing laws, rules or regulations.1avvphi1
Section 6. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:
SEC. 7. Penalties. -
(a) Any person found guilty of illegal recruitment shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less
than twelve (12) years and one (1) day but not more than twenty (20) years and a fine of not less than
One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) nor more than Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00). {Note:
imprisonment from prision mayor to reclusion temporal} ang haba!!!
(b) The penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of not less than Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00) nor
more than Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) shall be imposed if illegal recruitment constitutes
economic sabotage as defined therein.
Provided, however, That the maximum penalty shall be imposed if the person illegally recruited is less
SEC. 7. PENALTIES - than eighteen (18) years of age or committed by a non-licensee or non-holder of authority.
(a) Any person found guilty of illegal recruitment shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less
than six (6) years and one (1) day but not more than twelve (12) years and a fine not less than two
hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) nor more than five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00). {Note: New par. is added}
(b) The penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of not less than five hundred thousand pesos (c) Any person found guilty of any of the prohibited acts shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not
(P500,000.00) nor more than one million pesos (P1,000,000.00) shall be imposed if illegal recruitment less than six (6) years and one (1) day but not more than twelve (12) years and a fine of not less than
constitutes economic sabotage as defined herein. Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) nor more than One million pesos (P1,000,000.00).
Provided, however, that the maximum penalty shall be imposed if the person illegally recruited is less
If the offender is an alien, he or she shall, in addition to the penalties herein prescribed, be deported
than eighteen (18) years of age or committed by a non-licensee or non-holder of authority.
without further proceedings.
In every case, conviction shall cause and carry the automatic revocation of the license or registration
of the recruitment/manning agency, lending institutions, training school or medical clinic.
Section 7. Section 10 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:
SEC. 8. PROHIBITION ON OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES. - Ot shall be unlawful for any official or employee
of the Department of Labor and Employment, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, or
the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, or the Department of Foreign Affairs, or other SEC. 10. Money Claims. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Labor Arbiters of
government agencies involved in the implementation of this Act, or their relatives within the fourth civil the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) shall have the original and exclusive jurisdiction to hear
degree of consanguinity or affinity, to engage, directly or indirectly, in the business of recruiting and decide, within ninety (90) calendar days after the filing of the complaint, the claims arising out of
migrant workers as defined in this Act. The penalties shall be imposed upon them. an employer-employee relationship or by virtue of any law or contract involving Filipino workers for
overseas deployment including claims for actual, moral, exemplary and other forms of damage.
Consistent with this mandate, the NLRC shall endeavor to update and keep abreast with the
SEC. 9. VENUE. - A criminal action arising from illegal recruitment as defined herein shall be filed with developments in the global services industry.
the Regional Trial Court of the province or city where the offense was committed or where the offended
party actually resides at the same time of the commission of the offense: Provided, That the court
where the criminal action is first filed shall acquire jurisdiction to the exclusion of other courts. The liability of the principal/employer and the recruitment/placement agency for any and all claims
Provided, however, That the aforestated provisions shall also apply to those criminal actions that have under this section shall be joint and several. This provision shall be incorporated in the contract for
already been filed in court at the time of the effectivity of this Act. overseas employment and shall be a condition precedent for its approval. The performance bond to de
filed by the recruitment/placement agency, as provided by law, shall be answerable for all money
claims or damages that may be awarded to the workers. If the recruitment/placement agency is a
juridical being, the corporate officers and directors and partners as the case may be, shall themselves
be jointly and solidarily liable with the corporation or partnership for the aforesaid claims and damages.
SEC. 10. MONEY CLAIMS. - Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Labor Arbiters of
the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) shall have the original and exclusive jurisdiction to hear
and decide, within ninety (90) calendar days after filing of the complaint, the claims arising out of an Such liabilities shall continue during the entire period or duration of the employment contract and shall
employer-employee relationship or by virtue of any law or contract involving Filipino workers for not be affected by any substitution, amendment or modification made locally or in a foreign country of
overseas deployment including claims for actual, moral, exemplary and other forms of damages. the said contract.
The liability of the principal/employer and the recruitment/placement agency for any and all Any compromise/amicable settlement or voluntary agreement on money claims inclusive of damages
claims under this section shall be joint and several. This provisions shall be incorporated in the contract under this section shall be paid within thirty (30) days from approval of the settlement by the
for overseas employment and shall be a condition precedent for its approval. The performance bond to appropriate authority.
be filed by the recruitment/placement agency, as provided by law, shall be answerable for all money
claims or damages that may be awarded to the workers. If the recruitment/placement agency is a
juridical being, the corporate officers and directors and partners as the case may be, shall themselves
be jointly and solidarily liable with the corporation or partnership for the aforesaid claims and damages.
In case of termination of overseas employment without just, valid or authorized cause as defined by
law or contract, or any unauthorized deductions from the migrant workers salary, the worker shall be
Such liabilities shall continue during the entire period or duration of the employment contract entitled to the full reimbursement if his placement fee and the deductions made with interest at twelve
and shall not be affected by any substitution, amendment or modification made locally or in a foreign percent (12%) per annum, plus his salaries for the unexpired portion of his employment contract or for
country of the said contract. three (3) months for every year of the unexpired term, whichever is less.
Any compromise/amicable settlement or voluntary agreement on money claims inclusive of In case of a final and executory judgement against a foreign employer/principal, it shall be
damages under this section shall be paid within four (4) months from the approval of the settlement by automatically disqualified, without further proceedings, from participating in the Philippine Overseas
the appropriate authority. Employment Program and from recruiting and hiring Filipino workers until and unless it fully satisfies the
judgement award.
Noncompliance with the mandatory periods for resolutions of case provided under this section shall
In case of termination of overseas employment without just, valid or authorized cause as defined by law subject the responsible officials to any or all of the following penalties:
or contract, the workers shall be entitled to the full reimbursement of his placement fee with interest of
twelve percent (12%) per annum, plus his salaries for the unexpired portion of his employment contract (a) The salary of any such official who fails to render his decision or resolution within the prescribed
or for three (3) months for every year of the unexpired term, whichever is less. period shall be, or caused to be, withheld until the said official complies therewith;
(c) Dismissal from the service with disqualification to hold any appointive public office for five (5)
years.
Provided, however, That the penalties herein provided shall be without prejudice to any liability which
Non-compliance with the mandatory periods for resolutions of cases provided under this section shall any such official may have incured under other existing laws or rules and regulations as a consequence
subject the responsible officials to any or all of the following penalties: of violating the provisions of this paragraph.
(a) The salary of any such official who fails to render his decision or resolutions within the Section 8. The first paragraph of Section 13 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended is hereby amended to
prescribed period shall be, or caused to be, withheld until the said official complies therewith;
read as follows:
(c) Dismissal from the service with disqualifications to hold any appointive public office for
five (5) years.
Provided, however, that the penalties herein provided shall be without prejudice to any
liability which any such official may have incurred under other existing laws or rules and regulations as a
consequence of violating the provisions of this paragraph.
SEC. 11. MANADATORY PERIODS FOR RESOLUTION OF ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT CASES. - The SEC. 13. Free Legal Assistance; Preferential Entitlement Under the Witness Protection Program. A
preliminary investigations of cases under this Act shall be terminated within a period of thirty (30) mechanism for free legal assistance for victims of illegal recruitment shall be established in the anti-
calendar days from the date of their filing. Where the preliminary investigation is conducted by a illegal recruitment branch of the POEA including its regional offices. Such mechanism shall include
prosecution officer and a prima facie case is established, the corresponding information shall be filed in coordination and cooperation with the Department of Justice, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and
court within twenty-four (24) hours from the termination of the investigation. If the preliminary other non-governmental organizations and volunteer groups.
investigation is conducted by a judge and a prima facie case is found to exist, prosecution officer within
forty-eight (48) hours from the date of receipt of the records of the case. Section 9. Section 16 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:
SEC. 12. PRESCRIPTIVE PERIODS. - Illegal recruitment cases under this Act shall prescribe in
five (5) years: Provided, however, That illegal recruitment cases involving economic sabotage as defined
herein shall prescribe in twenty (20) years.
SEC. 13. FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE, PREFERENTIAL ENTITLEMENT UNDER THE WITNESS
PROTECTION PROGRAM. - A mechanism for free legal assistance for victims of illegal recruitment shall
be established within the Department of Labor and Employment including its regional offices. Such
mechanism must include coordination and cooperation with the Department of Justice, the Integrated
Bar of the Philippines, and other non-governmental organizations and volunteer groups.
{ The provisions of Republic Act No. 6981 to the contrary, notwithstanding, any person
who is a victim of illegal recruitment shall be entitled to the Witness Protection Program provided
thereunder.} Note: has been erased in RA 10042
III. SERVICES
SEC. 17. Establishment of National Reintegration Center for Overseas Filipino Workers. -A national
reintegration center for overseas Filipino workers (NRCO) is hereby created in the Department of Labor
and Employment for returning Filipino migrant workers which shall provide a mechanism for their
reintegration into the Philippine society, serve as a promotion house for their local employment, and tap
their skills and potentials for national development.
The Department of Labor and Employment, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and
the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) shall, within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, formulate a program that would motivate migrant workers to plan for productive
options such as entry into highly technical jobs or undertakings, livelihood and entrepreneurial
development, better wage employment, and investment of savings.
SEC. 17. ESTABLISHMENT OF RE-PLACEMENT AND MONITORING CENTER. - A replacement and monitoring For this purpose, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Technology
center is hereby created in the Department of Labor and Employment for returning Filipino migrant Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC), and other government agencies involved in training and livelihood
workers which shall provide a mechanism for their reintegration into the Philippine society, serve as a development shall give priority to returnees who had been employed as domestic helpers and
promotion house for their local employment, and tap their skills and potentials for national entertainers.
development.
Section 11. Section 18 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended is hereby amended to read as follows:
The Department of Labor and Employment, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and
the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration shall, within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of
this Act, formulate a program that would motivate migrant workers to plan for productive options such SEC. 18. Functions of the National Reintegration Center for Overseas Filipino Workers. -The Center
as entry into highly technical jobs or undertakings, livelihood and entrepreneurial development, better shall provide the following services:
wage employment, and investment of savings.
(a) Develop and support programs and projects for livelihood, entrepreneurship, savings, investments
For this purpose, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the and financial literacy for returning Filipino migrant workers and their families in coordination with
Technology Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC), and other government agencies involved in training and relevant stakeholders, service providers and international organizations;
livelihood development shall give priority to return who had been employed as domestic helpers and
entertainers.
(b) Coordinate with appropriate stakeholders, service providers and relevant international
organizations for the promotion, development and the full utilization of overseas Filipino worker
returnees and their potentials;
SEC. 18. FUNCTIONS OF THE RE-PLACEMENT AND MONITORING CENTER. - The center shall provide the (c) Institute, in cooperation with other government agencies concerned, a computer-based information
following service: system on returning Filipino migrant workers shall be accessible to all local recruitment agencies and
employers, both public and private;
(a) Develop livelihood programs and projects for returning Filipino migrant workers in
coordination with the private sector; (d) Proved a periodic study and assessment of job opportunities for returning Filipino migrant workers;
(b) Coordinate with appropriate private and government agencies the promotion,
Note: {additional par are added, to read as follows.}
development, re-placement and the full utilization of their potentials;
(c) Institute in cooperation with other government agencies concerned, a computer-based (e) Develop and implement other appropriate programs to promote the welfare of returning Filipino
information system on skilled Filipino migrant workers which shall be accessible to all local recruitment migrant workers;
agencies and employers, both public and private;
(f) Maintain an internet-based communication system for on-line registration and interaction with
(d) Provide a periodic study and assessment of job opportunities for returning Filipino migrant clients, and maintain and upgrade computer-based service capabilities of the NRCO;
workers.
(g) Develop capacity-building programs for returning overseas Filipino workers and their families,
implementers, service providers, and stakeholders; and
Section 12. The second paragraph of Section 19 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is hereby
amended to read as follows:
SEC. 19. ESTABLISHMENT OF A MIGRANT WORKERS AND OTHER OVERSEAS FILIPINOS RESOURCE CENTER.
- Within the premises and under the administrative jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in countries
where there are large concentrations of Filipino migrant workers, there shall be establish a Migrant
Workers and Other Overseas Filipinos Resource Center with the following services:
(b) Welfare assistance including the procurement of medical and hospitalization services;
(c) Information, advisory and programs to promote social integration such as post-arrival
orientation, settlement and community networking services for social integration;
(d) Institute a scheme of registration of undocumented workers to bring them within the
purview of this Act. For this purpose, the Center is enjoined to compel existing undocumented workers
to register with it within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, under pain of having his/her
passport cancelled;
(f) Gender sensitive programs and activities to assist particular needs of women migrant The establishment and operations of the Center shall be a joint undertaking of the various government
workers; agencies. The Center shall be open for twenty-four (24) hours daily including Saturdays, Sundays and
holidays, and shall be staffed by Foreign Service personnel, service attaches or officers who represent
(g) Orientation program for returning workers and other migrants; and other Philippine government agencies abroad and, if available, individual volunteers and bona fidenon-
government organizations from the host countries. In countries categorized as highly problematic by the
Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment and where there is a
(h) Monitoring of daily situations, circumstances and activities affecting migrant workers and concentration of Filipino migrant workers, the government must provide a Sharia or human rights
other overseas Filipinos. lawyer, a psychologist and a social worker for the Center. In addition to these personnel, the
government must also hire within the receiving country, in such number as may be needed by the post,
The establishment and operations of the Center shall be a joint undertaking of the various public relation officers or case officers who are conversant, orally and in writing, with the local
government agencies. The Center shall be open for twenty-four (24) hours daily, including Saturdays, language, laws, customs and practices. The Labor Attache shall coordinate the operation of the Center
Sundays and holidays, and shall be staffed by Foreign Service personnel, service attaches or officers who and shall keep the Chief of Mission informed and updated on all matters affecting it.
represent other organizations from the host countries. In countries categorized as highly problematic by
the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment and where there is a Section 13. Section 20 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:
concentration of Filipino migrant workers, the government must provide a lawyer and a social worker for
the Center. The Labor Attache shall coordinate the operation of the Center and shall keep the Chief of
SEC. 20. Establishment of a Shared Government Information System for Migration. An interagency
Mission informed and updated on all matters affecting it.
committee composed of the Department of Foreign Affairs and its attached agency, the Commission on
Filipinos Overseas, the Department of Labor and Employment and its attached concerned agencies, the
The Center shall have a counterpart 24-hour information and assistance center at the Department of Tourism, the Department of Justice the Bureau of Immigration, the National Bureau of
Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure a continuous network and coordinative mechanism at the home Investigation, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the National Telecommunications
office. Commission, the Commission on Information and Communications Technology, the National Computer
Center, the National Statistical and Coordination Board, the National Statistics Office and other
government agencies concerned with overseas employment shall be established to implement a shared
government information system for migration. The interagency committee shall initially make available
to itself the information contained in existing data bases/files. The second phase shall involve linkaging
of computer facilities on order to allow free-flow data exchanges and sharing among concerned
agencies.
SEC. 20. ESTABLISHMENT OF A SHARED GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR MIGRATION. - An inter-
agency committee composed of the Department of Foreign Affairs and its attached agency, the
Commission on Filipino Overseas, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Philippine Overseas The inter-agency committee shall be co-chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the
Employment Administration, The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, The Department of Tourism, Department of Labor and Employment. TheNationalComputerCentershall provide the necessary technical
the Department of Justice, the Bureau of Immigration, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the assistance and shall set the appropriate information and communications technology standards to
National Statistics Office shall be established to implement a shared government information system for facilitate the sharing of information among the member agencies.
migration. The inter-agency committee shall initially make available to itself the information contained
in existing data bases/files. The second phase shall involve linkaging of computer facilities in order to The inter-agency committee shall meet regularly to ensure the immediate and full implementation of
allow free-flow data exchanges and sharing among concerned agencies. this section and shall explore the possibility setting up a central storage facility for the data on
migration. The progress of the implementation of this section shall be include in the report to Congress
of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment under Section 33.
The inter-agency committee shall convene to identify existing data bases which shall be declassified
and shared among member agencies. These shared data bases shall initially include, but not be limited
to, the following information:
(b) Inventory of pending legal cases involving Filipino migrant workers and other Filipino nationals,
including those serving prison terms;
(a) Masterlists of departing/arriving Filipinos; (f) Basic data on legal systems, immigration policies, marriage laws and civil and criminal codes in
receiving countries particularly those with large numbers of Filipinos;
(g) List of Labor and other human rights instruments where receiving countries are signatories;
(b) Inventory of pending legal cases involving Filipino migrant workers and other Filipino nationals,
including those serving prison terms; (h) A tracking system of past and present gender disaggregated cases involving male and female
migrant workers, including minors; and
(c) Masterlists of departing/arriving Filipinos;
(i) Listing of overseas posts which may render assistance to overseas Filipinos, in general, and migrant
(d) Statistical profile on Filipino migrant workers/overseas Filipinos/Tourists; workers, in particular.
(f) Basic data on legal systems, immigration policies, marriage laws and civil and criminal Section 14. Subparagraph (b.1) of paragraph (b) of Section 23 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is
codes in receiving countries particularly those with the large numbers of Filipinos; hereby amended to read as follows:
(g) List of labor and other human rights instruments where receiving countries are
signatories;
(h) A tracking system of past and present gender disaggregated cases involving male and
female migrant workers; and
(I) Listing of overseas posts which may render assistance to overseas Filipinos, in general, and
migrant workers, in particular.
SEC. 21. MIGRANT WORKERS LOAN GUARANTEE FUND. - In order to further prevent
unscrupulous illegal recruiters from taking advantage of workers seeking employment abroad, the
OWWA, in coordination with government financial institutions, shall institute financing schemes that will
expand the grant of pre-departure loan and family assistance loan. For this purpose, a Migrant Workers
Loan Guarantee Fund is hereby created and the revolving amount of one hundred million pesos
(P100,000,000.00) from the OWWA is set aside as a guarantee fund in favor of participating government
financial institutions.
SEC. 22. RIGHTS AND ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM UNDER INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL
HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEMS. - The Department of Foreign Affairs is mandated to undertake the necessary
initiative such as promotions, acceptance or adherence of countries receiving Filipino workers to
multilateral convention, declaration or resolutions pertaining to the protection of migrant workers'
rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs is also mandated to make an assessment of rights and avenues
of redress under international and regional human rights systems that are available to Filipino migrant
workers who are victims of abuse and violation and, as far as practicable and through the Legal Assistant
for Migrant Workers Affairs created under this Act, pursue the same on behalf of the victim if it is legally
impossible to file individual complaints. If a complaints machinery is available under international or
regional systems, the Department of Foreign Affairs shall fully apprise the Filipino migrant workers of
the existence and effectiveness of such legal options.
IV. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
SEC. 23. ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. - The following government agencies shall
perform the following to promote the welfare and protect the rights of migrant workers and, as far as
applicable, all overseas Filipinos:
(b.1) Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. The Administration shall regulate private sector
participation in the recruitment and overseas placement of workers by setting up a licensing and
(a) Department of Foreign Affairs. - The Department, through its home office or foreign registration system. It shall also formulate and implement, in coordination with appropriate entities
posts, shall take priority action its home office or foreign posts, shall take priority action or make concerned, when necessary, a system for promoting and monitoring the overseas employment of Filipino
representation with the foreign authority concerned to protect the rights of migrant workers and other workers taking into consideration their welfare and the domestic manpower requirements. It shall be
overseas Filipinos and extend immediate assistance including the repatriation of distressed or responsible for the regulation and management of overseas employment from the pre-employment
beleaguered migrant workers and other overseas Filipinos; stage, securing the best possible employment terms and conditions for overseas Filipino workers, and
taking into consideration the needs of vulnerable sectors and the peculiarities of sea-based and land-
(b) Department of Labor and Employment - The Department of Labor and Employment shall based workers. In appropriate cases, the Administration shall allow the lifting of suspension of erring
see to it that labor and social welfare laws in the foreign countries are fairly applied to migrant workers recruitment/manning agencies upon the payment of fine of Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) for every
and whenever applicable, to other overseas Filipinos including the grant of legal assistance and the month of suspension.
referral to proper medical centers or hospitals:
in addition to its powers and functions, the Administration shall inform migrant workers not only of
(b.1) Philippine Overseas Employment Administration - Subject to deregulation and phase out their rights as workers but also of their rights as human beings, instruct and guide the workers how to
as provided under Sections 29 and 30 herein, the Administration shall regulate private sector assert their rights and provide the available mechanism to redress violation of their rights. It shall also
participation in the recruitment and overseas placement of workers by setting up a licensing and be responsible for the implementation, in partnership with other law-enforcement agencies, of an
registration system. It shall also formulate and implement, in coordination with appropriate entities intensified program against illegal recruitment activities. For this purpose, the POEA shall provide
concerned, when necessary employment of Filipino workers taking into consideration their welfare and comprehensive Pre-Employment Orientation Seminars (PEOS) that will discuss topics such as prevention
the domestic manpower requirements. of illegal recruitment and gender-sensitivity.
The Administration shall not engage in the recruitment and placement of overseas workers except on a
government-to-government arrangement only.
In the recruitment and placement of workers to service the requirements for trained and competent
Filipino workers of foreign governments and their instrumentalitys, and such other employers as public
interests may require, the Administration shall deploy only to countries where the Philippine has
conclude bilateral labor agreements or arrangements: Provided, That such countries shall guarantee to
protect the rights of Filipino migrant workers; and Provided, further,That such countries shall observe
and/or comply with the international laws and standards for migrant workers.
Section 15. Sub-paragraph (b.2) of Paragraph (b) of Section 23 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is
hereby amended to read as follows:
(b.2) Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. The Welfare officer of in his absence, the
coordinating officer shall provide the Filipino migrant worker and his family all the assistance they may
need in the enforcement of contractual obligations by agencies or entities and/or by their principals. In
the performance of this function, he shall make representation and may call on the agencies or entities
concerned to conferences or conciliation meetings for the purpose of settling the compliance or
problems brought to his attention. The OWWA shall likewise formulate and implement welfare programs
for overseas Filipino workers and their families while they are abroad and upon their return. It shall
ensure the awareness by the overseas Filipino workers and their families of these programs and other
related governmental programs.
In the repatriation of workers to be undertaken by OWWA, the latter shall be authorized to pay
repatriation-related expenses, such as fines or penalties, subject to such guidelines as the OWWA Board
of Trustees may prescribe.
{Note: Sub par. (b.2) of par (b) of Sec 23 of RA 8042 is now Sec 15 of RA 10022}
Section 16. Under Section 23 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, add new paragraphs (c) and (d)
(b.2) Overseas Workers Welfare Administration - The Welfare Officer or in his absence, the coordinating with their corresponding subparagraphs to read as follows:
officer shall provide the Filipino migrant worker and his family all the assistance they may need in the
enforcement of contractual obligations by agencies or entities and/or by their principals. In the (c) Department of Health. The Department of Health (DOH) shall regulate the activities and
performance of this functions, he shall make representation and may call on the agencies or entities operations of all clinics which conduct medical, physical, optical, dental, psychological and other similar
concerned to conferences or conciliation meetings for the purpose of settling the complaints or examinations, hereinafter referred to as health examinations, on Filipino migrant workers as
problems brought to his attention. requirement for their overseas employment. Pursuant to this, the DOH shall ensure that:
(c.1) The fees for the health examinations are regulated, regularly monitored and duly published to
ensure that the said fees are reasonable and not exorbitant;
(c.2) The Filipino migrant worker shall only be required to undergo health examinations when there is
reasonable certainty that he or she will be hired and deployed to the jobsite and only those health
examinations which are absolutely necessary for the type of job applied for or those specifically
required by the foreign employer shall be conducted;
{Note: Under Section 16, of RA 10042, as amended, adds new paragraphs (c) and (d) with their (c.3) No group or groups of medical clinics shall have a monopoly of exclusively conducting health
corresponding subparagraphs. SEE: >>>>>>>>>} examinations on migrant workers for certain receiving countries;
(c.4) Every Filipino migrant worker shall have the freedom to choose any of the DOH-accredited or
DOH-operated clinics that will conduct his/her health examinations and that his or her rights as a
patient are respected. The decking practice, which requires an overseas Filipino worker to go first to an
office for registration and then farmed out to a medical clinic located elsewhere, shall not be allowed;
(c.5) Within a period of three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act, all DOH regional and/or
provincial hospitals shall establish and operate clinics that can be serve the health examination
requirements of Filipino migrant workers to provide them easy access to such clinics all over the country
and lessen their transportation and lodging expenses and
(c.6) All DOH-accredited medical clinics, including the DOH-operated clinics, conducting health
examinations for Filipino migrant workers shall observe the same standard operating procedures and
shall comply with internationally-accepted standards in their operations to conform with the
requirements of receiving countries or of foreign employers/principals.
Any Foreign employer who does not honor the results of valid health examinations conducted by a DOH-
accredited or DOH-operated clinic shall be temporarily disqualified from the participating in the
overseas employment program, pursuant to POEA rules and regulations.
In case an overseas Filipino worker is found to be not medically fit upon his/her immediate arrival in
the country of destination, the medical clinic that conducted the health examination/s of such overseas
Filipino worker shall pay for his or her repatriation back to the Philippines and the cost of deployment of
such worker.
Any government official or employee who violates any provision of this subsection shall be removed or
dismissed from service with disqualification to hold any appointive public office for five(5) years. Such
penalty is without prejudice to any other liability which he or she may have incurred under existing
laws, rules or regulations.
(d) Local Government Units. In the fight against illegal recruitment, the local government units
(LGUs), in partnership with the POEA, other concerned government agencies, and non-government
organizations advocating the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers, shall take a proactive
stance by being primarily responsible for the dissemination of information to their constituents on all
aspects of overseas employment. To carry out this task, the following shall be undertaken by the LGUs:
(d.1) Provide a venue for the POEA, other concerned government agencies and non-government
organizations to conduct PEOS to their constituents on a regular basis;
(d.2) Establish overseas Filipino worker help desk or kiosk in their localities with the objective of
providing current information to their constituents on all the processes aspects of overseas employment.
Such desk or kiosk shall, as be linked to the database of all concerned government agencies, particularly
the POEA for its updated lists of overseas job orders and licensed recruitment agencies in good
standing.
Section 17. Subparagraph ( c ) of Section 24 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is hereby amended
to read as follows:
V. THE LEGAL ASSISTANT FOR MIGRANT WORKERS AFFAIRS
( c ) To tap the assistance of reputable law firms, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, other bar
SEC. 24. LEGAL ASSISTANT FOR MIGRANT WORKERS AFFAIRS. - There is hereby created the
associations and other government legal experts on overseas Filipino worker laws to complement the
position of Legal Assistant for Migrant Workers Affairs under the Department of Foreign Affairs who shall
governments efforts to provide legal assistance to our migrant workers;
be primarily responsible for the provision and overall coordination of all legal assistance services to be
provided to Filipino migrant workers as well as overseas Filipinos in distress. He shall have the rank,
salary and privileges equal to that of an undersecretary of said Department. Section 18. Section 25 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:
The said Legal Assistant for Migrant Workers Affairs shall be appointed by the President and
must be of proven competence in the field of law with at least ten (10) years of experience as a legal
practitioner and must not have been a candidate to an elective office in the last local or national
elections.
Among the functions and responsibilities of the aforesaid Legal Assistant are:
(a) To issue the guidelines, procedures and criteria for the provisions of legal assistance SEC. 25. Legal Assistance Fund. There is herby established a legal assistance fund for migrant
services to Filipino migrant workers; workers, hereinafter referred to as the Legal Assistance Fund, in the amount of one hundred million
pesos (P100,000,000.00) to be constituted from the following sources.
(b) To establish close linkages with the Department of Labor and Employment, the POEA, the
OWWA and other government agencies concerned, as well as with non-governmental organizations Fifty million pesos (50,000,000.00) from the Contingency Fund of the President;
assisting migrant workers, to ensure effective coordination and cooperation in the provision of legal
assistance to migrant workers;
(c) To tap the assistance of reputable law firms and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and Thirty million pesos (30,000,000.00) from the Contingency Fund of the President Social Fund;
other bar associations to complement the government's efforts to provide legal assistance to migrant
workers; {Note: Sub Par C, of Sec 24, RA 8042} Gulo niyo!!! Twenty million pesos (20,000,000.00) from the Welfare Fund for Overseas Workers established under
Letter of Instructions No. 537 as amended by Presidential Decree Nos. 1694 and 1809; and
(d) To administer the legal assistance fund for migrant workers established under Section 25
hereof and to authorize disbursements there from in accordance with the purposes for which the fund An amount appropriated in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) which shall not be less than
was set up; and Thirty million pesos (30,000,000.00) per year: Provided, that the balance of the Legal Assistance Fund
(LAF) including the amount appropriated for the year shall not be less than One hundred million pesos
(e) To keep and maintain the information system as provided in Section 20. (P100,000,000.00) : Provided, further, That the fund shall be treated as a special fund in the National
Treasury and its balance, including the amount appropriated in the GAA, which shall form part of the
Fund, shall not revert to the General Fund. {Note: Additional par.}
The legal Assistant for Migrant Workers Affairs shall have authority to hire private lawyers,
domestic or foreign, in order to assist him in the effective discharge of the above functions.
Any balances of existing funds which have been set aside by the government specifically as legal
assistance or defense fund to help migrant workers shall upon effectivity of this Act, be turned over to,
SEC. 25. LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUND - There is hereby established a legal assistance fund for
and form part of, the Fund created under this Act.
migrant workers, herein after referred to as Legal Assistance fund, in the amount of One hundred million
pesos (P100,000,000.00) to be constituted from the following sources:
Section 19. Section 26 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:
Fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00) from the Contingency Fund of the President;
SEC. 26. Uses of the Legal Assistance Fund. The Legal Assistance Fund created under the preceding
Thirty million pesos (P30,000,000.00) from the Presidential Social Fund; and section shall be used exclusively6 to provide legal services to migrant workers and overseas Filipinos in
distress in accordance with the guidelines, criteria and procedures promulgated in accordance with
Section 24 ( a ) herof. The expenditures to be charged against the Fund shall include the fees for the
Twenty million pesos (P20,000,000.00) from the Welfare Fund for Overseas Workers foreign lawyers to be hired by the Legal Assistant for Migrant Workers Affairs to represent migrant
established under Letter of Instruction No. 537, as amended by Presidential Decree Nos. 1694 and 1809. workers facing charges or in filing cases against erring or abusive employers abroad, bail bonds to secure
the temporary releases and other litigation expenses: Provided,That at the end of every year, the
Department of Foreign Affairs shall include in its report to Congress, as provided for under Section 33 of
this Act, the status of the Legal Assistance Fund, including the expenditures from the said fund duly
audited by the Commission on Audit (COA): Provided, further, That the hiring of foreign legal counsels,
when circumstances warrant urgent action, shall be exempt from the coverage of Republic Act No. 9184
or the Government Procurement Act. {Note: additional Par.}
Section 20. Section 32 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:
Any balances of existing fund which have been set aside by the government specifically as legal
assistance or defense fund to help migrant workers shall, upon effectivity of this Act, to be turned over
to, and form part of, the Fund created under this Act.
SEC. 26. USES OF THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUND. - The Legal Assistance Fund created under the
preceeding section shall be used exclusively to provide legal services to migrant workers and overseas
Filipinos in distress in accordance witht the guidelines, criteria and procedures promulgated in
accordance with Section 24 (a) hereof. The expenditures to be charged against the Fund shall include
the fees for the foreign lawyers to be hired by the Legal Assistance for Migrant Workers Affairs to
represent migrant workers facing charges abroad, bail bonds to secure the temporary release of workers
under detention, court fees and charges and other litigation expenses.
SEC. 28. COUNTRY-TEAM APPROACH. - Under the country-team approach, all officers,
representatives and personnel of the Philippine government posted abroad regardless of their mother
agencies shall, on a per country basis, act as one country-team with a mission under the leadership of
the ambassador. In this regard, the ambassador may recommend to the Secretary of the Department of
Foreign Affairs the recall of officers, representatives and personnel of the Philippine government posted
abroad for acts inimical to the national interest such as, but not limited to, failure to provide the
necessary services to protect the rights of overseas Filipinos.
Upon receipt of the recommendation of the ambassador, the Secretary of the Department of
Foreign Affairs shall, in the case of officers, representatives and personnel of other departments,
endorse such recommendation to the department secretary concerned for appropriate action. Pending
investigation by an appropriate body in the Philippines, the person recommended for recall may be
placed under preventive suspension by the ambassador.
In host countries where there are Philippine consulates, such consulates shall also constitute
part of the country-team under the leadership of the ambassador.
SEC. 30. GRADUAL PHASE-OUT OF REGULATORY FUNCTIONS. - Within a period of five (5) years SEC. 32. POEA, OWWA and other Boards; Additional Memberships. Notwithstanding any provision of
from the effectivity of this Act, the DOLE shall phase out the regulatory functions of the POEA pursuant law to the contrary, the respective Boards of the POEA and the OWWA shall, in addition to their present
to the objectives of deregulation. composition, have three (3) members each who shall come from the women, sea-based and land-based
sectors respectively, to be selected and nominated openly by the general membership of the sector
being represented. {Note: No longer the president has the appointing authority, additional pars.}
VII. PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER HIGHLY-SKILLED FILIPINOS ABROAD
The selection and nomination of the additional members from the women, sea-based and land-based
SEC. 31. INCENTIVES TO PROFESSIONALS AND OTHER HIGHLY-SKILLED FILIPINOS ABROAD. - sectors shall be governed by the following guidelines:
Pursuant to the objective of encouraging professionals and other highly-skilled Filipinos abroad
especially in the field of science and technology to participate in, and contribute to national
development, the government shall provide proper and adequate incentives and programs so as to (a) The POEA and the OWWA shall launch a massive information campaign on the selection of nominees
and provide for a system of consultative sessions for the certified leaders or representatives of the
secure their services in priority development areas of the public and private sectors. concerned sectors, at least three (3) times, within ninety (90) days before the boards shall be convened,
for purposes of selection. The process shall be open, democratic and transparent;
(b) Only non-government organizations that protect and promote the rights and welfare of overseas
IX. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS Filipino workers, duly registered with the appropriate Philippine government agency and in good
standing as such, and in existence for at least three (3) years prior to the nomination shall be qualified
to nominate a representative for each sector to the Board;
SEC. 32. POEA AND OWWA BOARD; ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIPS. - Notwithstanding any provision
of law to the contrary, the respective Boards of the POEA and the OWWA shall, in addition to their
present composition, have three (3) members each who shall come from the women, sea-based and (c) The nominee must be at least twenty-five (25) years of age, able to read and write, and a migrant
land-based sectors, respectively, to be appointed by the President in the same manner as the other worker at the time of his or her nomination or was a migrant worker with at least three (3) years
members. experience as such; and
(d) A final list of all the nominees selected by the OWWA/POEA governing boards, which shall consist of
three(3) names for each sector to be represented, shall be submitted to the President and published in a
newspaper of general circulation;
Within thirty (30) days from the submission of the list, the President shall select and appoint from the
list, the representatives to the POEA/OWWA governing boards.
The additional members shall have a term of three (3) years and shall be eligible for reappointment for
another three (3) years. In case of vacancy, the President shall in accordance with the provisions of this
Act, appoint a replacement who shall serve the unexpired term of his or her predecessor.
Any executive issuances or orders issued that contravene the provisions of this section shall have no
force and effect.
All other government agencies and government-owned or controlled corporations which require at least
one (1) representative from the overseas workers sector to their respective boards shall follow all the
applicable provisions of this section.
Section 21. The first and last paragraph of Section 33 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is hereby
amended to read as follows:
SEC. 33. Report to Congress. In order to inform the Philippine Congress on the implementation of the
policy enunciated in Section 4 hereof, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor
and Employment shall submit separately to the said body a semi-annual report of Philippine foreign
posts located in countries hosting Filipino migrant workers. The mid-year report covering the period
January to June shall be submitted not later than October 31 of the same year while the year-end report
covering the period July to December shall be submitted not later than May 31 of the following year.
The report shall include, but shall not limited to, the following information:
xxx
SEC. 33. REPORT TO CONGRESS. - In order to inform the Philippine Congress on the implementation of
the policy enunciated in Section 4 hereof, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of
Labor and Employment shall submit to the said body a semi-annual report of Philippine foreign posts
located in countries hosting Filipino migrant workers. The report shall not be limited to the following Any officer of the government who fails to submit the report as stated in this section shall be subject
information: to an administrative penalty of dismissal from the service with disqualification to hold any appointive
public office for five (5) years.
(a) Masterlist of Filipino migrant workers, and inventory of pending cases involving them and
other Filipino nationals including those serving prison terms;
(b) Working conditions of Filipino migrant workers; Section 22. Section 35 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:
(c) Problems encountered by the migrant workers, specifically violations of their rights; SEC. 35. Exemption from Travel Tax Documentary Stamp and Airport Fee. All laws to the contrary
notwithstanding, the migrant workers shall be exempt from the payment of travel tax and airport-fee
(d) Initiative/actions taken by the Philippine foreign posts to address the problems of Filipino upon proper showing of proof entitlement by the POEA.
migrant workers;
The remittances of all overseas Filipino workers, upon showing of the same proof of entitlement by the
(e) Changes in the laws and policies of host countries; and overseas Filipino workers beneficiary or recipient, shall be exempt from the payment of documentary
stamp tax.
(f) Status of negotiations on bilateral labor agreements between the Philippines and the host
country.
Any officer of the government who fails to report as stated in the preceeding section shall be Section 23. A new Section 37-A. of Replublic Act No. 8042, as amended, is hereby added to read as
subjected to administrative penalty.{Note: this last par is read as>>>>>>>>>} follows:
(e) Subsistence allowance benefit, with at least One hundredUnited Statesdollars (US$100.00) Per
month for a maximum of six (6) months for a migrant worker who is involved in a case or litigation for
the protection of his/her rights in the receiving country;
(f) Money claims arising from employers liability which may be awarded or given to the worker in a
judgment or settlement of his or her case in the NLRC. The insurance coverage for money claims shall be
equivalent to at least three (3) months for every year of the migrant workers employment contract;
In addition to the above coverage, the insurance policy shall also include:
(g) Compassionate visit. When a migrant worker is hospitalized and has been confined for at least seven
(7) consecutive days, he shall be entitled to a compassionate visit by one (1) family member or a
requested individual. The insurance company shall pay for the transportation cost of the family member
or requested individual to the major airport closest to the place of hospitalization of the worker. It is,
however, the responsibility of the family member or requested individual to meet all visa and travel
document requirements;
(h) Medical evacuation. When an adequate medical facility is not available proximate to the migrant
worker, as determined by the insurance companys physician and/or a consulting physician, evacuation
under appropriate medical supervision by the mode of transport necessary shall be undertaken by the
insurance provider; and
(i) Medical repatriation. When medically necessary as determined by the attending physician,
repatriation under medical supervision to the migrant workers residence shall be undertaken by the
insurance provider at such time that the migrant worker is medically cleared for travel by commercial
carrier. If the period to receive medical clearance to travel exceeds fourteen (14) days from the date of
discharge from the hospital, an alternative appropriate mode of transportation, such as air ambulance,
may be arranged. Medical and non-medical escorts may be provided when necessary.
Only reputable private insurance companies duly registered with the Insurance Commission (IC), which
are in existence and operational for at least Five hundred million pesos (P500,000,000.00) to be
determined by the IC, and with a current year certificate of authority shall be qualified to provide for
the workers insurance coverage. Insurance companies who have directors, partners, officers, employees
or agents with relatives, within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, who work or have
interest in any of the licensed recruitment/manning agencies or in any of the government agencies
involved in the overseas employment program shall be disqualified from providing this workers
insurance coverage.
The recruitment/manning agency shall have the right to choose from any of the qualified insurance
providers the company that will insure the migrant worker it will deploy. After procuring such insurance
policy, the recruitment/manning agency shall provide an authenticated copy thereof to the migrant
worker. It shall then submit the certificate of insurance coverage of the migrant worker to POEA as a
requirement for the issuance of an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) to the migrant worker. In the
case of seafarers who are insured under policies issued by foreign insurance companies, the POEA shall
accept certificates or other proofs of cover from recruitment/manning agencies: Provided, That the
minimum coverage under sub-paragraphs (a) to (i) are included therein.
Any person having a claim upon the policy issued pursuant to subparagraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of
this section shall present to the insurance company concerned a written notice of claim together with
pertinent supporting documents. The insurance company shall forthwith ascertain the truth and extent
of the claim and make payment within ten (10) days from the filing of the notice of claim.
Any claim arising from accidental death, natural death or disablement under this section shall be paid
by the insurance company without any contest and without the necessity of providing fault or negligence
of any kind on the part of the insured migrant worker: Provided, That the following documents, duly
authenticated by the Philippine foreign posts, shall be sufficient evidence to substantiate the claim:
For repatriation under subparagraph (d) hereof, a certification which states the reason/s for the
termination of the migrant workers employment and the need for his or her repatriation shall be issued
by the Philippine foreign post or the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) located in the receiving
country.
For subsistence allowance benefit under subparagraph (e), the concerned labor attach or, in his
absence, the embassy or consular official shall issue a certification which states the name of the case,
the names of the parties and the nature of the cause of action of the migrant worker.
For the payment of money claims under subparagraph (f), the following rules shall govern:
(1) After a decision has become final and executor or a settlement/compromise agreement has been
reached between the parties at the NLRC, an order shall be released mandating the respondent
recruitment/manning agency to pay the amount adjudged or agreed upon within thirty (30) days;
(2) The recruitment/manning agency shall then immediately file a notice of claim with its insurance
provider for the amount of liability insured, attaching therewith a copy of the decision or compromise
agreement;
(3) Within ten (10) days from the filing of notice of claim, the insurance company shall make payment
to the recruitment/manning agency the amount adjudged or agreed upon, or the amount of liability
insured, whichever is lower. After receiving the insurance payment, the recruitment/manning agency
shall immediately pay the migrant workers claim in full, taking into account that in case the amount of
insurance coverage is insufficient to satisfy the amount adjudged or agreed upon, it is liable to pay the
balance thereof;
(4) In case the insurance company fails to make payment within ten (10) days from the filing of the
claim, the recruitment/ manning agency shall pay the amount adjudged or agreed upon within the
remaining days of the thirty (30)-day period, as provided in the first subparagraph hereof;
(5) If the workers claim was not settled within the aforesaid thirty (30)-day period, the
recruitment/manning agencys performance bond or escrow deposit shall be forthwith garnished to
satisfy the migrant workers claim;
(6) The provision of compulsory workers insurance under this section shall not affect the joint and
solidary liability of the foreign employer and the recruitment/manning agency under Section 10;
(7) Lawyers for the insurance companies, unless the latter is impleaded, shall be prohibited to appear
before the NLRC in money claims cases under this section.
Any question or dispute in the enforcement of any insurance policy issued under this section shall be
brought before the IC for mediation or adjudication.
In case it is shown by substantial evidence before the POEA that the migrant worker who was deployed
by a licensed recruitment/manning agency has paid for the premium or the cost of the insurance
coverage or that the said insurance coverage was used as basis by the recruitment/manning agency to
claim any additional fee from the migrant worker, the said licensed recruitment/manning agency shall
lose its license and all its directors, partners, proprietors, officers and employees shall be perpetually
disqualified from engaging in the business of recruitment of overseas workers. Such penalty is without
prejudice to any other liability which such persons may have incurred under existing laws, rules or
regulations.
For migrant workers recruited by the POEA on a government-to-government arrangement, the POEA
shall establish a foreign employers guarantee fund which shall be answerable to the workers monetary
claims arising from breach of contractual obligations. For migrant workers classified as rehires, name
hires or direct hires, they may opt to be covered by this insurance coverage by requesting their foreign
employers to pay for the cost of the insurance coverage or they may pay for the premium themselves.
To protect the rights of these workers, the POEA shall provide them adequate legal assistance, including
conciliation and mediation services, whether at home or abroad.
At the end of every year, the Department of Labor and Employment and the IC shall jointly make an
assessment of the performance of all insurance providers, based upon the report of the NLRC and the
POEA on their respective interactions and experiences with the insurance companies, and they shall
have the authority to ban or blacklist such insurance companies which are known to be evasive or not
responsive to the legitimate claims of migrant workers. The Department of Labor and Employment shall
include such assessment in its year-end report to Congress.
For purposes of this section, the Department of Labor and Employment, IC, NLRC and the POEA, in
consultation with the recruitment/manning agencies and legitimate non-government organizations
advocating the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers, shall formulate the necessary
implementing rules and regulations.
The foregoing provisions on compulsory insurance coverage shall be subject to automatic review
through the Congressional Oversight Committee immediately after three (3) years from the effectivity of
this Act in order to determine its efficacy in favor of the covered overseas Filipino workers and the
compliance by recruitment/manning agencies and insurance companies, without prejudice to an earlier
review if necessary and warranted for the purpose of modifying, amending and/or repealing these
subject provisions.
Section 24. A new Section 37-B of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is hereby added to read as
follows:
Sec. 37-B. Congressional Oversight Committee. There is hereby created a Joint Congressional
Oversight Committee composed of five (5) Senators and five (5) Representatives to be appointed by the
Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. The Oversight
Committee shall be co-chaired by the chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Labor and Employment
and the House of Representatives Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs. The Oversight Committee
shall have the following duties and functions:
(a) To set the guidelines and overall framework to monitor and ensure the proper implementation of
Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, as well as all programs, projects and activities related to overseas
employment;
(b) To ensure transparency and require the submission of reports from concerned government agencies
on the conduct of programs, projects and policies relating to the implementation of Republic Act No.
8042, as amended;
(c) To approve the budget for the programs of the Oversight Committee and all disbursements
therefrom, including compensation of all personnel;
(d) To submit periodic reports to the President of the Philippines and Congress on the implementation
of the provisions of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended;
(e) To determine weaknesses in the law and recommend the necessary remedial legislation or
executive measures; and
(f) To perform such other duties, functions and responsibilities as may be necessary to attain its
objectives.
(b) The remaining one hundred fifty million pesos (P150,000,000.00) shall be funded from the proceeds
of Lotto. The Oversight Committee shall adopt its internal rules of procedure, conduct hearings and receive
testimonies, reports, and technical advice, invite or summon by subpoena ad testificandum any public
The Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Fund as herein created shall be administered official or private citizen to testify before it, or require any person by subpoena duces tecum documents
by the DOLE in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). To carry out the or other materials as it may require consistent with the provisions of Republic Act No. 8042, as
objectives of this section, the DOLE and the DOST shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations. amended.
Note: A new sec 37B is added, to be read as follow>>>>>
The Oversight Committee shall organize its staff and technical panel, and appoint such personnel,
whether on secondment from the Senate and the House of Representatives or on temporary,
contractual, or on consultancy, and determine their compensation subject to applicable civil service
laws, rules and regulations with a view to ensuring a competent and efficient secretariat.
The members of the Oversight Committee shall not receive additional compensation, allowances or
emoluments for services rendered thereto except traveling, extraordinary and other necessary expenses
to attain its goals and objectives.
The Oversight Committee shall exist for a period of ten (10) years from the effectivity of this Act and
may be extended by a joint concurrent resolution.
Section 25. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The departments and agencies charged with carrying
out the provisions of this Act, except as otherwise provided herein, in consultation with the Senate
Committee on Labor and Employment and the House of Representatives Committee on Overseas Workers
Affairs, shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate the necessary rules and
regulations for its effective implementation.
Section 26. Funding. The departments, agencies, instrumentalities, bureaus, offices and government-
owned and controlled corporations charged with carrying out the provisions of this Act shall include in
their respective programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the
General Appropriations Act. The Congressional Oversight Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs shall
have the sum of Twenty-five million pesos (P25,000,000.00), half of which shall be charged against the
current appropriations of the Senate while the other half shall be charged against the current
appropriations of the House of Representatives, to carry out its powers and functions for its initial
operations and for fiscal years wherein the General Appropriations Act is reenacted and no provision for
its continued operation is included in such Act. Thereafter, such amount necessary for its continued
operations shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Section 27. Separability Clause. If, for any reason, may portion of this Act is declared unconstitutional
or invalid, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions not affected thereby.
Section 28. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances, rules and regulations or
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 29. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two
(2) newspapers of general circulation.
SEC. 38. APPROPRIATION AND OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING. - The amount necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act shall be provided for in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its
enactment into law and thereafter.
SEC. 39. MIGRANT WORKERS DAY. - The day of signing by the President of this Act shall be
designated as the Migrant Workers Day and shall henceforth be commemorated as such annually.
SEC. 40. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. - The departments and agencies charged
with carrying out the provisions of this Act shall, within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act,
formulate the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation.
SEC. 41. REPEATING CLAUSE. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 42. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. - If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby.
SEC. 43. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation
whichever comes earlier.