this government really screw big time all the time……

THe POEA administerator is either a moron or dumb or dumber….

WE should do something about this

This administration is really intent on milking the proverbial “cows” (OFWs) dry. This is another proof that this government is only paying lip service to the concerns of OFWs. Do these idiots in DOLE and POEA believe that foreign employers would be rushing to employ Filipinos even with this restrictive policy (MC-4) in place? Don’t they realize that there are millions more people from other countries (w/o these hiring restrictions) who are also vying for overseas jobs? These morons in government don’t realize that they may be instead killing the “goose that lays the golden egg”. Brion and Baldoz should resign from their posts, NOW NA!

It looks like the OWWA tries to make everyone happier. But of course some, if not all are unhappy on certain points on the memo cir 4. I am sure our love ones would like to see us back home in a decent casket., etc. So my suggestion is come up with a draft emending some or all and have it looked into by our comrades then we send it to the OWWA. Thats how it goes wth rules and regulations and even edicts. Had about three significant items amended already.I would not agree to a rally yet.

ang haba, wala akong maintindihan.

kindly begin your story like this….to make the long story short, or in a nutshell, or in light of the foregoing, or make it brief but concise.

masakit sa mata. nakakatamad.

I just resigned and transferred recently from my previous employer in Abu Dhabi, UAE and now presently working ( directly hired) here in Doha , Qatar. Luckily, my employer was not aware about this new memorandum and thankfully that I was able to join my new company without any glitch. If this new referendum is indeed operational and being practiced now, para namang napaka imposible na yata para makalipat pa ng ibang work and much worse eh kung meron pa bang magkakainterest pa para i-hire tayong mga OFW’s ulit knowing that your new prospective employer will have to go through all this mess created by this Lady Rosalinda Baldoz. Nak ng whetteng oh! wala na ba talaganag magandang magawa ang mga tao ng gobyernong ito, pati OFW pinahihirapan pa… I agree, this lady deserve to be condemned and axed from her work just like this Malou F. I support your advocacy….Lets make some noise folks, please do ur share and support this protest.. Long live OFW’s

These morons are cutting the belly of the goose that lays the golden egg.

It’s always the same old story with these morons … they want to get rich quick. Who in government (or related to government) is getting the golden eggs?

The “bonds” that these employers will be required to pay will go straight into the pockets of GMA and her magnanakaw family, I’m sure.

If I am an employer….No way of paying $5K or $8K. The reason why we Filipinos are looking for jobs overseas it’s because even in our own country we can’t get a better job to provide our families…Come to think of it, who’s employer in a very good sense would pay a bond of that amount. As long as employees have health insurance and pension with his/her employer that should be more than enough.

I had a discussion with my employer overseas with regards to this matter and I was told that if that’s the case “NO MORE FOREIGN EMPLOYERS WILL HIRE HARD WORKING FILIPINOS”. I’m calling all my kababayan all over the world…let’s all disagree on this memorandum on behalf of our foreign employers. This is not fair at all.

My question is..where would the money goes in case my contract finish and nothing happen to me? I can bet everyone it’s going to all corrupt politicians in our country, that’s why we are not progressing.

To Mr. Villar, go for it Sir…I salute you for demanding on reassessment of this matter.

Whoever implement this is only dumb, and it’s for her own benefit only.

What’s going to happen if all employer overseas stop employees for working and send each and everyone back home…who’s going to give us a job? Is it Gloria???????????? I doubt.

Rosalinda Dimapilos-Baldoz, the POEA administrator, should resign. She does not know what she is doing. She has no grasp of realities in the lives of OFWs overseas. If the Philippine government is like the US, this memo will be okay since it can be enforced no matter what. But with a weak government like RP, the result will be just more abuses on OFWs and more employers will be angry towards pinoy workers.

There is an overwhelming number of good employerss than bad ones. Supposed to be, only the bad employers should be punished and the good ones should be praised and not given a hard time.

Most victims of bad employers are really the lowly workers who are less qualified to the job and therefore have no bargaining power against exploiters.

What POEA should do is improve the skills of potential or new OFWs and do not allow unqualified workers to go overseas.

Above all, the Philippines should stop sending domestic helpers to the Middle East. These countries have strange cultures which are not fit for Filipino women.

Whoever advised the POEA to come up with this memorandum is either a non-OFW or is just plain ignorant of what is happening exactly on the ground. Even if, say, the direct hire employee and his employer abides by the rules, it is the employee, most probably, who will shoulder most of the costs of his employment. There is no rule, in the memo or wherever, that would stop the employer from back-charging the employee for whatever monies that he paid in order to hire the OFW. Are those people in the POEA living in another world?

Perhaps POEA Administrator’s Ph.D. means Passed High School with Difficulty har! har! har! Ther are more of her kind in other government agencies! Further let’s admit that top POEA officialss have their own Recruitment Agencies - of course run my their dummies! Akala siguro nila mga OFW tanga! LOL kahit DH lang yan, college graduate ang mga iyan at baka mas matataas pa ang mga IQ level nila kesa sa inyo dyan sa POEA!

The government should have considered first the downside effects to the OFW’s their latest Memorandum in regulating the “direct hiring process” although the intention is to protect the OFW from any unfortunate event his/her employment term, but this doesnt mean that it can helps the person to acquire and secure a better job he/she is longing for, because of this new guidelines which in Employer’s view is very restrictive and costly to comply.

Furthermore, i myself being an OFW who wants to find another job which i can acquire thru a direct hiring process will have to think twice before doing it due to this very unhelpful policies of our government in acquiring a better and high paying job from another employer.

when will this end?

it is sometime hard for me to swallow when some of my foreign friends speaks of filipino characters that described us as greedy and conniving miscreants. this kind of comments makes me seething with anger and usually ends with big debate against my friends’ unfounded facts. but the actions of phil. govt officials i.e.(the POEA vultures ) only speaks volume that attest to my friends’ empirical observations.
policy initiative like the POEA govt. official’s action have galvanized my foreign friends belief against our true filipino characters.

how can i argue with my foreign friends when the truth that they have professed and spoke about stares me right into my eyes?

The POEA is trying to get the country back to the ancient times when there was no internet. Now we look for jobs, arrange interviews and get direct hired thru the internet. I think it is about time for the recruitment agencies to align their business to this modernization and the POEA should not impose heavy burden financially to us OFWs and propective employers. We will loose the jobs to countries like India, China and other emerging labor exporting countries who does put heavy burden to employers and employees.

It’s another ingenuity of the filipinos.. Tired of getting bribes, commissions and kotongs from the OFW which is very small time.. Why we don’t take it directly from their bigtime foreign employers.. anyhow our ofw are really in demand worldwide. In this case, we will be taking this legally, in huge amount and not directly from our people.. Mike Arroyo and Benjamin Abalos will sure agree on this idea.. Poor OFW.. buti pang mamundok na lang..wala kang lusot..lumabas ka na ng bansa..biktima ka pa rin at hinahabol ng bulok na sistema.. maagnas sana ng buhay ang nagplano at sponsor ng batas na iyan..bulok..bulokk..

Yes, I agree with the mounting dissent among the OCWs worldwide especially those who where “hired directly”.

It seems that DOLE/POEA missed the point I discussed in my radio programs, BALETODO SPECIAL EDITION, SATURDAYS, 6:15 - 8:00 pm aired over RADYO ng BAYAN 738 khz am Band http://www.pbs.gov.ph and “BAYANING MANGGAGAWA, BAYANING OFW” Saturdays, 12:00 - 2:00 pm over DZAR SONSHINE RADIO 1026 khz).

During my broadcasts, I called on every hardworking Filipinos who are going to work under a “direct hire” “to register” in our government agencies concerned, in this case, DOLE/POEA/OWWA, to ensure that they can be easily monitored and assisted once a problem arises.

I also called on all OCWs/OFWs, being a long time OCW myself, to immediately inform the Philippine Embassy (PE) officials upon arrival to area of destination.

With this initiative of the OCW, we can get out of trouble coming ahead of us, the government thru the PE can easily trace and assist us when problem arises.

Having been a “direct hire” OFW in Japan for long, I enlisted myself to abovesaid agencies and paid that OWWA US$25 for my insurance etc. I worked in Japan for long until I finished my contract.

When I went home in our country, I got sick and was operated to remove stones in my gall bladder. That time, I don’t have enough money to pay my medical bills nor to buy my required medicines being unemployed. ganyan naman ang buhay nating OFWs after contract di ba?

I ask my wife to try going to OWWA for financial assistance and mind you, they helped me a lot by paying all my hospital bills and medicine bills. You can check and verify my record at OWWA to beleive and confirm.

Now the issue on POEA Memorandum No 4. It is indeed a strange to me who is that wizzard-business-oriented adviser of Administrator Baldoz! Masyadong matinik sa kitaan ang bugok na iyan!

No stupid foreign employer will muster to get in their wallets or bags or even from their banks to pay - in all - US$8,000 just hire and employ Pinoys. It must leak from their (DOLE/POEA) hallucinating minds that these employers are after the fast and hustle free hiring unlike the slow but very expensive yet heavily bureaucratic system of recruitment agencies in our country. Not even businessmen would undergo the long period of documentation before starting their business to run that is why many among these sector prefer to invest in other countries or go underground economy to fastrack their investment and income!

What Sec Brion, Ms. Baldoz must do is simply call on the “direct hired” Pinoy workers to register in their master list of leaving our beloved land and pay the OWWA Insurance/etcFee, period.

On the other hand, us, OFWs/OCWs, must not turn our heads in paying our OWWA US$25 insurance/etc fee. Note that etc please. It is not all about our personal insurance now but for all of us. Lucky are those who are not affected by problems inflicted in host countries we go and work. Please consider that in many experiences, directly and indirectly, that US$25 serves not only our fellow OFWs/OCWs who got sick or those hospitalized due to accidents met, BUT, those who’re trapped in wartorn countries and get repatriated back home. OWWA is forced to shell whatever amount possible to ensure safety of affected Pinoys. Let us be realistic to this point. It happened many times and keep happening, right?

Hence, my point why we must register, as “direct hires” to DOLE/POEA before leaving to work abroad is simply for our own protection, safety and assurance that we can be easily traced and assisted in case a problem or trouble arises vs us. DOLE/POEA/OWWA can no longer have the “alibi” that they do not have our names in their master list or be tagged as “undocumented” OFWs. A reason they can legally claim against us that results to long, unassuring needed assitance. And sorry, I agree to this case.

Mawalang galang, once I was the President of Migrant Workers Federation (MWF) and we handled many of these cases. Those who sought our help, the “direct hires” do not even have records in the Philippine Embassies of host countries! This is a big mistake among us dear Kababayans. We must practice registering ourselves in our PEs wherever country we go, even as tourists. It is our prime duty to avoid misgivings in the latter part especially when we meet accidents in other countries (huwag naman sana!). Para walang sisihan kung kailangan natin ang tulong. And when they distance themselves helping us, then that is the time we can really pour our raging sentiments against our government officials assigned and tasked to help us.

Overall, while I join all “direct hired” OCWs/OFWs in decrying this new POEA Memorandum Order, please let us be reasonable to registering and paying the OWWA US$25 insurance/etc fees. On insurance business, they call it law of probability, Hindi man tayo nagkasakit at hindi napakinabangan ang insurance fee, sa sandaling may napahamak tayong kababayan sa ibang bansa na ang nasabing ahensiya ang tumulong…tayong OFWs/OCWs ay may malaking bahagi sa kabayanihan ng paglilingkod sa kapwa at sa ating bayan!

Thank you very much at mabuhay ang uring manggagawa!!!

EdV

More discussions on MC4 at this link:

http://bbayani.proboards56.com/index.cgi?board=oe

The MC4 was just a result of a resolution of the POEA governing board headed by Art Brion and composed of Baldoz, Leo de Ocampo of Omanfil recruitment agency, Capt Oca of Amosup, former congressman Aligada, and former DOT secretary Mina Gabor.

The main objective of the direct hire policy of Brion and company was not to protect OFWs but to ensure that recruitment agencies continue their business in the face of the emerging trend of getting overseas jobs directly from employers through the internet and other modes.

In 2007, direct hires or name hires accounted for about 4 percent of the total OFW contracts (1 million annual average) processed by the POEA. De Ocampo must have seen the steady increase from 2005 at only 0.3% and 1.3% in 2006, that he prodded the board to issue such resolution.

If you say this is worst than Malu Fernandez then POEA Administrator Rosalindo Dimapilos-Baldoz should thier wrist together

Sa tingin nyo, sino pang employer ang wlling mag hire ng filipinos dahil sa circular na to. dito sa cayman Island, nabasa na ng iban employers to, at most of he big companies dito, ayaw ng kumuha ng pinoy, kasi sobra daw ang bansa natin, mas gugustuhin na lang daw nilang kumuha ng mga indians, kesa pinoy, alam nyo bang hindi lahat ng naka-pag abroad ay pinapalad sa employers, merong mga nanny dito, janitors t magkano lang nman ang kinikita nila, nag titiis sila kasi sa mga tulad nilang walang natapos sa pinas, hanggang doon na lang sila, kya sila nagtya-tyaga na mg work abroad, dahil sa pinas, kunid kamag-anak system ang umiiral sa companies, may age limit, height limi, beauty personalities, even qualified ka, andyan din syempre, yung depende pa kung saang school ka grumadweyt, syempre uunahin yung mga galing sa top schools, so pagdating dun sa grumadweyt ng provinces, hanggang sales lady na lang sila or salesman, kya nga maraming nagtitiis na OFW, maka-alis sa bansa natin at magtiis sa ibang bansa para may ng suporta sa mga family nila, tpos hinahadlangan pa ng panibangong circular na yan. sana, matanggal sa pwesto or mag resign na lang si Rosalinda Baldoz at kung sino pa ang mga kasama nyang nagpapa-tupad nito at for sure di sila makakatulongsa country natin.

P.S.

Pano pala yung mga na roll-over na OFW’s, affected din ba sila nitong circular nato? Roll Over dito sa cayman Islands, pagkatapos mo ng 7 years, kilangan mong lumabas ng Isla for 1 to 2 years, to be able to come back and work.???

Yes, this is another kind of making money out of OFWs, following the manipulative rise of the Peso which in turn has less and less purchase power. The reason is simple: The high exchange rate is pushed by the government and CB to get and pay debts cheaper. Preferrably long term debts of which the repayment is then the duty of future administrations and even generations. The low purchase power is a profit taking of the big business which increases prices on their own discretion, not need, since all report record profits. And second, the low purchase power reflects the real value of the Peso, no matter of its exchange rate.

That foreign employers will just swallow these rules is just a dream of the brainless people at the government agencies. It is already a problem for the employers to accept that RP wants to send its people out to abroad but at the same time wants to tell the employers what they have to pay. This, even the requested minimum salaries are never paid in the Philippines. If foreign countries would tell Filipinos how much they have to pay on salaries, there would be an outcry about “meddling in internal matters”. The normal way is to negotiate between employer and employee until they find a deal which satisfies both parties.
Regarding that agencies give more security to OFWs. this is rather a fiction to legalize their often exorbitant fees. It should look as if they search to find a job for the applicant, but in reality it is very contrary. They only have those jobs that have been offered by foreign employers and usually these clients are charged for to get the employee. Too, in very many cases the employer also pays the transportation but still the agancies charge the OFW, too.
Not only that, often the agancy changes the contract to a lower salary and/or to a longer contract time. Very seldom any agancy will look to the OFW or help, anyway they have no authority in the other countries, often even not a branch there. (a personal experience with a young female relative to Saudi Arabia: Contract 2 years, salary 300 Dollar, working time 8..10 hours daily. After arrival, the salary was 250 Dollar,working time up to 18 hours (household), a high placement fee, 3 months salary deducted for the plane ticket, no health insurance. Never anyone checked, even the agency has a branch there, the only lucky part of all was, that the employer was not bad as person).
With concern to the usual manner of the administration, the milking of OFWs, employers, exporters, tourists and investors will continue as long as this administration is in power. Someone has to provide the millions or billions that are given away to politicians for their support and votes….

The Philippine Government and our people are doomed and there is nothing much the people can do about it. Everybody from government to private sector are just too willing to do anything for the money.

Try applying for a drivers license, and the “fixers” will follow you like flies. Go to any government office with papers to follow and the “fixers” are all there.

We can replace all the government people from president to the lowly clerks, and the result will be the same. It will be different faces, but the same system.

We will never achieve any semblance of honest government in our lifetime. Welcome to reality.

The only reason there are “whistle blowers” is because they did not get their share of the loot. Sad indeed.

what a moronic idea!

Dapat mamulat na tayong lahat. Working overseas is exposure to unbelievable work-related oppression. Dapat ibawal na ang pagpapadala ng domestic helpers sa middle east at sa mga bansang may record for abuse tulad ng Singapore.

Oo nga maraming walang trabaho sa atin at ang sweldo na kikitain sa ibang bansa ay hindi madaling matumbasan dito sa Pilipinas pero ang mala-hayop na trato ang kapalit nito.

Alam niyo mas mahirap pa sa atin ang mga Bengali, Indiano, Pakistani, at iba pa pero hinding hindi nila ipapadala sa ibang bansa ang kanilang kababaihan para magtrabaho.

Kung ang mungkahing ito ay magpapahigpit sa paghanap nang trabaho ng mga domestic helper sana mas pinahirapan pa nila ang mga patakaran para lalong walang magibang bansang domestic helpers.

Kung alam niyo lang ang alam ko sa mga pagtrato sa mga domestic helpers sa Saudi iisipin ninyong parang ipinadala ninyo na rin sa impierno ang kababaihan natin.

Exporting labor should not be a long term policy. Believe me Indians, Bengalis, Pakistanis, etc. will become more attractive to employers overseas because they are cheaper..never mind if they lack the brains.

The long term solution is to promote Philippine businesses.

Pull out all female OFW in Saudi NOW!!!

I am fully supporting the call/petition to demand the resignation of POEA head Rosalinda Baldoz and the immediate scrapping of the bureaucratic Memo No. 04 on OFW direct hires. The memo is another scheme of the corrupt government to steal money from others.
The officials of the POEA and DOLE don’t know what they are doing when they issued the Memo. They are selfish. They don’t want their fellow Filipinos to achieve their dreams of working abroad which is the only hope they see to alleviate their living conditions. The government is inept in providing a decent and just work in our country. I strongly support the immediate scrapping of the Memo. If this petition requires OFWs to unite and bring this protest to the streets, I will join them and continue to shout for the immediate scrapping of the memo.

What they say about his governnment policy;

Middle eastern Employer 1 ( hiring a maid ): ” No problem, When she comes I just make sure that she will not receive her salary until that 8000 USD I’d paid to her goverment will be paid /offset to her salary. That means she will be working for around 3 years continously with nothing on her hand. As a bonus, I will let her work from 4am up to 11pm so that she’ll be worth the money I paid them. I’ll lock her to my house so that she can’t slips and ran away while i’m not there..

ME Employer 2 :” Sorry, I can easily hire indian, bangladishi’s, nepali , etc.. without having these troubles”.. Or else, if I will hire one, I just make sure that he will not leave this country until he paid me the equivalent service to my money or I’ll make him rot on jail.. I can easily do that…

Western Employer 1 : I’m not stupid.

Western Employer 2 : Hmmmm.. Let’s try from other country again.

Jap employer ; Bakero!

Poor OFW : Mr. Labor attache’, Hindi po kami pinasusuweldo, binago po ang kontrata namin, kinukulong kami at hindi pinalalabas.. halos hindi na kami pinatutulog sa trabaho.. Kayuwiran ng amo namin, sinusulit lang daw niya ang binayad niya sa gobyerno natin. Tatakas na po kami at magtatago sa consulate natin. o di kaya ay mag TTNT na lang po kami , dahil ayaw pa po naming umuwi dahil kailangan pa naming kumita ng pera..

TSK…tssk..tskkk..tsk… what a pity..

mga KABABAYAN KO, sama-sama tayong mag-petition.

Hay naku. This so called memo of the poea is just really in the guise of protecting our dear ofw. modus-operandi
na naman nila para ano pa ? magkamal ng perang hindi ni pinagpaguran ! Saan ba napupunta ang mga taxes natin !

‘kala ko ba modern day heroes yung mga ofw natin ? Pag pinagbayad mo yung mga nag direct hire - para mo naring ibenta yung ofw natin. Inaabuso na nga ang mga fofw na wala pa silang binabayaran, how much more na nagbayad na sila !

This is another ZTE deal and this is worst dahil parang direct selling na ng tao ito !!!

Patawarin sana ako ng Dios kung mali ako ! At sana ang mga nasa gobyerno ay sawayin nawa ng Dios ! Lahat tayo ay mamamatay din ! Kahit ano ka pa, mayaman, mahirap, dukha etc, we will all die and buried in the same planet earth.
Maliban lang kung sa kakukurakot ninyo eh doon kayo magpalibing sa buwan o mars kaya !!

it is already hard for us to make a living in the philippines due to rampant corruption and lack of discipline in the government. that’s why most of us opt to look for jobs abroad, because the earning power will be more than enough to feed families and send kids to school.

what i like about the global market is that filipinos are now viewed as the market where they can get employees who do well at work and in turn give them a fighting chance to excel. but by implementing mc4, the chances of us being hired is getting from slim to none. it is already hard to battle for a job against the other nations, and even if we are selected or come highly qualified, mc4 will ruin our chances of working abroad. even if the employer wants to hire filipinos, they will shy away from us because of the hurdles that they will go thru just to hire us.

please do not implement this. it is already hard to be away from our families, and if you do this you just placed a stake in our hearts and marked our families for death.

Can’t this government think of something better to unburden the load off the OFW’s and those who planning to be so? Obviously this Memorandum Circular on direct hires reflects the callous intellectual mentality of the new breed of so-alled government bureaucrats who were appointed to their posts not because of what they know but because of whom they know.
I was a direct hire myself way back in 1999. I was sourced out by a fellow Filipino on instructions of the ompany owners, when a vacancy to manage a factory occurred. I have stayed on sine then. The contract terms offered, and still in effect are generous to say the least, in terms of compensation, annual bonuses, insurance, medical and repatriation. And then suddenly this government comes with this damn idea with the pretext of protecting OFW’s. Common…, are they serious? If they cannot think of something more useful, it is better they keep their big mouth shut.!!!

bakit may bayad? panu naman kming alang credit card pero gusto mag sign sa petition na yan? raket ba to?

I’m also an OFW - direct hired in U.A.E. with this memorandum from our P.O.E.A., I will join and support the idea in forcing POEA Head ROSALINDA BALDOZ’s resignation and the scrapping of this POEA Memorandum Circular No. 4

its too bad for us, OFWs will suffer the most, and of course, our families.

POEA Head ROSALINDA DIMAPILOS-BALDOZ, resign, resign, resign, or else……….

Basta….in-favor ako na walang mabago sa mga rules about working abroad. (or at least changes like low admin fees higher support benefits….yan lang ang changes na gusto ko).

Btw, lets loosen-up, baka magpalusot si POEA na…..”Guidelines” lang naman iyan, kung PAYAG pa rin ang OFW na tanggapin ang terms ng Employer, e may magagawa ba kaming POEA na ang layunin lang e tumulong sa mga bagong bayani?—–magandang palusot ito. Tsaka sana totoo nga yung “tulong” part.

Teka, kailangan pa ba ng POEA? Hindi ba’t yung mga EMBASSY/Consul dapat ang pitpitin ng maigi sa pangangalaga ng mga Pinoy’s abroad?

Huwag naman sana, pero may alam akong mga Consul General, walang ginagawa kundi umattend ng mga “function dinner”, representative daw kasi sila ng Pilipinas…….oo nga naman no?

Totally agree that this is more stupid than the M.F. controversy! Learned about this memo when I had my PDOS last October [through the lecturer assigned to us] and I couldn’t believe it would really be implemented! How stupid, insensitive, ignorant. Abolish this memo! Abolish POEA! POEA, can’t you really do something nice, for a change? The OEC fee you demand from us before we leave the country is more than enough! That money can even be used to repatriate fellow OFWs! Don’t implement memos without any public hearing! Mga ignorante!

D yan totoo. Mis information lang yan para magalit ang mga tao laban sa PH Goverment.
Ask Directly sa source. Ask POEA.

Greed, illiteracy, ignorance and sloth are very destructive things no matter how nicely and cleverly disguised. It is obvious to the most casual observer that this POEA bureaucrat administrator Rosalinda Dimapilos-Baldoz who signed off on this memorandum was unable to think critically. She was unable to consider all the necessary factors (pro and con) before signing off on this memorandum - either that or she was coerced into signing it by the corrupt politicians that rule the country. Additionally, this bureaucrat operates in a palpable vacuum, totally insulated from the realities of Philippine life and livelihood, totally bankrupt and bereft of intellectual ability - in other words Ms. Baldoz is inept - she is an inutile. I find it troubling that with all the Filipino “brains” and brilliant minds available for service to the country, an imbecile like Ms. Baldoz still manages to infiltrate the ranks of government service - or is she the typical civil service employee? I have surmised that corruption is alive and well. Pity the poor Filipino who has to resort to working abroad to feed his or her family. Pity the poor Filipino professional who has to eat humble pie and hire on to do jobs clearly beneath his or her dignity in order to find employment from mostly unscrupulous worldwide slave merchants with the complicity of the Philippine Government and other wickedly brazen Filipino middlemen. It is my hope that as more and more Filipinos get to work abroad they become more and more informed of “better” life systems and “more effective” governing bodies. It is my hope that eventually, OFWs will forge for the upcoming generations a new Philippines.

31
E. J. Abad Says:
February 11th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Can’t this government think of something better to unburden the load off the OFW’s and those who planning to be so? Obviously this Memorandum Circular on direct hires reflects the callous intellectual mentality of the new breed of so-alled government bureaucrats who were appointed to their posts not because of what they know but because of whom they know.
I was a direct hire myself way back in 1999. I was sourced out by a fellow Filipino on instructions of the ompany owners, when a vacancy to manage a factory occurred. I have stayed on sine then. The contract terms offered, and still in effect are generous to say the least, in terms of compensation, annual bonuses, insurance, medical and repatriation. And then suddenly this government comes with this damn idea with the pretext of protecting OFW’s. Common…, are they serious? If they cannot think of something more useful, it is better they keep their big mouth shut.!!!
++++++++++++++++++
Yes, Indeed. But they can’t keep their big mouth shut. Because they need that money for their endeavor. Gatasan nila ang lahat namagatasan nila. Hindi mo ba nakikita yan! Huwag tayong pumayag na sa atin nalang yan. Kong mg pauto tayo!

29
romeo cruz Says:
February 11th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Hay naku. This so called memo of the poea is just really in the guise of protecting our dear ofw. modus-operandi
na naman nila para ano pa ? magkamal ng perang hindi ni pinagpaguran ! Saan ba napupunta ang mga taxes natin !

‘kala ko ba modern day heroes yung mga ofw natin ? Pag pinagbayad mo yung mga nag direct hire - para mo naring ibenta yung ofw natin. Inaabuso na nga ang mga fofw na wala pa silang binabayaran, how much more na nagbayad na sila !

This is another ZTE deal and this is worst dahil parang direct selling na ng tao ito !!!

Patawarin sana ako ng Dios kung mali ako ! At sana ang mga nasa gobyerno ay sawayin nawa ng Dios ! Lahat tayo ay mamamatay din ! Kahit ano ka pa, mayaman, mahirap, dukha etc, we will all die and buried in the same planet earth.
Maliban lang kung sa kakukurakot ninyo eh doon kayo magpalibing sa buwan o mars kaya !!
***********************
Ano pa nga ba ang tawag diyan. If is not selling the filipino people to the highest bidder. Tama ka, This is another NBN/ZTE corruption. Walang ibang makinabang sa pera kanila makuha sa mga OFW’S condi ang corrupt na government ni Gloria Arroyo.

@ Doc

Paki-clarify na hindi totoo ang MC-04. Please check the POEA website so you know it’s real.

Here’s the link:
http://www.poea.gov.ph/mc/mc4_2007_directhire.pdf

Lester
http://www.lestercavestany.com

POEA alo released a Frequently Asked Questions document pointing out a few things about MC-04. Here’s the link to the POEA FAQ document:
http://www.poea.gov.ph/mc/Q&A%20DirectHiring.pdf

Pinagpipilitan pa rin po ng POEA na para sa proteksyon ng OFW ang MC-4. Bakit ba mas marunong pa kayo kaysa sa ‘ming mga OFW? Sana maunawaan niyo naman na hindi ganoon kadali maghanap ng trabaho sa ibang bansa. Buti sana kung nakakatulong kayo maghanap ng mga employer e. E hindi naman. Hindi na nga kayo nakakatulong sa paghanap ng trabaho, ngayon makakasagabal pa kayo!

And in your document, you said that the repatriation bond of $5000 will only cost the employer $55 if they get it from a Philippine bonding company. But what about the performance bond? Can this be paid through a bond as well. But anyway, that’s beside the point. The point is that you are asking the employer to go through all these hassles! Hassle talaga!

You also mentioned in your document that only 4% of OFWs who left the country in 2007 were direct-hires. Misleading po ang statistic na ‘to dahil pinalalabas niyong maliit na porsyente lang ang mga direct-hires. Pero sa 96% na dumaan sa recruiter, ilan sa kanila ang maghahanap uli ng bagong trabaho sa bansang pinagtatrabahuhan nila pag natapos na ang kanilang kontrata. At kapag nakahanap sila ng bagong trabaho, di ba direct-hires na sila. In short, lumalaki ang mga bilang ng direct-hires habang tumatagal.

I now understand why many OFWs believe that this memorandum was implemented - to make sure that everyone goes through the pilfering hands of recruitment agencies - kasi nandoon ang kita ng gobyerno at ng mga agency sa pilipinas. In other words, kotong ito. This is really, “protection” money in the real mafia sense! Now I know what they mean when they say that this memorandum is for our “protection.”

Walang kinalayo ito sa “protection money” na binibigay ng lugao vendor sa mga “kotong boys.” Ang galing talaga!

Ayos na ang buto-buto……my amendment na kuno sa Memorandum…..pero ang bottomline…….I IMPLEMENT pa rin ang MEMO.

Nakakainis talaga ang isang sitwasyon na alam na alam mo na ang mga next step ng mga tinamaan ng magaling, pero wala kang magawa kundi lumugmok na lang at magbuntong hininga.

Mga kababayan, mukhang hindi concentrated ang effort natin to petition to “ABOLISH” yung memo a……

Mukhang at this time, gumagamit na ng statistics ang POEA…..na-stats nila na most of the respondents sa mga email/blogs/petition, e may kanya-kanyang dahilan….at isa na siguro doon sa nakita nila e….merong mga bansa na dapat nilang i-exempt.

Viola…..thus the amendment.

ABOLISH….hindi AMENDMENT lang.

Yung isang article nga pala sa inquirer….abswelto daw yung 2 COnstruction firm sa OWWA scam….

Next na yang OWWA na yan……..i-AUDIT ang FUNDS…….tagal ng hinuhulugan ng mga OFW ang FUNDS na yan a…..ano ba ang output?

Ms. Rosalinda Dimapilos-Baldoz, some employers have seen MC4. and the stand on hiring filipinos have been joepardized.

I hope you’re happy. Now most Filipinos who are looking for work abroad will be greatly affected. thank you very much!

nag abroad nga kami para masuportahan ang mga pamilya namin na dapat sana ay obligasyon nga gobyerno na bigyan ng trabaho at sahud ang lahat ng tao at kaya nga nag direct hiring nalang kami para ma minus gastos kumpara sa mga ahensya at govt. offices na nag o-overcharge. kaya namin ma protektahan ang sarile namin. ilang percentage ba ng mga OFW’s (direct hiring) na tinulungan ng gobyerno dahil nagka problema sa ibang bansa ikumpara sa mga naka rehsitro sa mga ahensya na nagkaruon din ng problema? walang kwenta talaga ‘tong memo na ‘to. s amga kababayan nating mga OFWs at tsaka sa pamilya natin sa ‘pinas, suportahan natin ang pag scrap nang walang kwentang memo!!! fire out thos people who started this crap. walang maidudulot na kabutihan ‘to sa mga OFWs. tama na yang pera na galing kurakot, huwag na ninyu kaming gatasan pa!!!

I’m one of the recently affected OFW about this Memo no. 4 from POEA. the past week i was given a job offer (direct hire) to Kazakhstan as Safety Officer. The next day, the company turned me out for they already found another personnel from India. I asked the Procurement in charge on what was the reason behind. and you know what he answered? ano pa kundi ang pe***** memo na ‘to. ggggrrrrr, sana ma karma ang sinumang nagpasimuno nito!!!

correction…

if 100 filipinos are hired directly…its equivalent to 6,000,000 php

In the attempt to help us, OFW’s and those who aspire to be one, POEA is instead making it worst. By issuing this MC4, it is making it more difficult for anyone whether abroad or at home to find another employment.

Consider our case, we have lived outside of the country for 8 years. Imagine all the abubots that we have accumulated all these years. We’ll be thankful if we can put all the trash in one container van. So we need to wait, stand around for one month until our employment is cleared. During that one month, we won’t have a visa, no salary, no housing, no insurance, etc. Will the government shoulder our living expenses while waiting for them to approve the application?

I am blessed to have found an employment who looked past my being a Filipino. Do you know that some people are biase towards us? They think that every-Juan speaks English with the same accent back home. I have applied to more than 20 schools before I got accepted to this one I am currently working at. I was fired once because I am a Filipina and that my kind should be in the kitchen scrubbing floors and not in the classroom. This arrangement, they say, can create some kind of confusion in the little minds who are accustomed to having Filipina maids. Because they say, Filipinas are maids NOT teachers.

Now, now, now let me see…POEA, I think you want to be helpful. You want to make sure that we are not duped by some smooth talking employer.

How about making sure that when we come home, we do not need to suffer the arrogant reception we get every time we go to your office?

what about making sure that those people who are going out of the country through agencies undergo a proper seminar?

What about if you people sit down and think of ways to improve the lot of our relatives back home?

What about studying the effects of being separated from parents or from husbands or wives because they have to work abroad?

What about coming up with programs that will lend support to our aging OFW’s? Have you ever thought about what happened to those BAGONG BAYANI who have come home? And those who will eventually come home?

US$8,000 is a lot of money for some would-be employers. One has to be exceptionally good for the employer to part with that amount. So who are you kidding?!

What happens if the establishment who wishes to hire a Filipino is not that big? There goes the potential dollars.

I am ranting, obviously. But more than ranting, I am concern about prospects for the future with this MC4 in front of us.

I don’t think this is doable.

Smart guys in the POEA, I am begging your kindness, please rethink this MC4. Consider the possible repercussions this can cause—

This only shows how incompetent the government employees which are put into place by ranking officials in the government or have their own “kapit” inside, instead of those who really have the capacity for the job. For this memorandum, I think they didn’t even conduct any analysis of the impact if it has been put into realization. Please resolve this as soon as possible. This is causing a lot of damage to Filipinos especially OFWs.

Dear Johndik Ouano,

Pare, nakikiramay ako sa nangyari sa ‘yo. Baka ganyan na nga ang mangyayari sa iba pang mga OFW kung hindi natin mapigilan ang pag-implementa nitong memorandum na ito. Ang isa pang balita tungkol dito ay na-exempt na ang Hong Kong, Italy, Canada, at iba pang mga bansang maingay na nagpoprotesta tungkol dito. Sana kasama pa rin natin sila sa pag-protesta kahit na na-exempt na sila.

Mabuhay ang Samahan Laban sa Katiwalian ng mga Recruitment Agencies at Patakarang MC-04 (SKRAP-MC 4)!

I am also an OFW.

I understand the sentiments of those who are not in favor of this.

You have stated the advantages as well as disadvantages. But let me add something to that…

We will see and experience the effects of this only when it’s implemented. And to assess, we have to assess in general.

If we find out that this brings more disadvantages like employers are discouraged to hire Fipininos and the number of OFW goes down, then I think the POEA will notice that and surely they will amend/improve or totally scrap this.

The advantage of giving this a try is, this will make the foreign countries (and not only the employers) think that we are not “cheap”. We are so precious the our government is trying to protect us and give what is due to us.

Who knows, maybe the other countries will follow the standard set by those countries exempted on this.

Ngayon, kung sakaling ibasura ito after the assessment, then I think, mag-aagawan ang mga employers na kumuha ng Pilipino.

We appreciate indeed your concern to us, OFW around the world, though I’m one of them who’s not affected on that new policy MC4-POEA but im still OFilipinoW hopefully next time you implement such regulation or whatever… you should conduct a research or somekind of information gathering first from us because we OFW knew best more than you do.

You have your reason, protecting OFW but the solution is not the best way because at the end of the day we, OFW are going to suffer more.

Personal Solution/Opinion:
1. The gov’t should create some terms and condition bet. employeers & employee… like if employeers teminated its employee within 3 months without good reason they going to pay employees some kind of compensation (equivalent to 3 months salary). For employees, they have no right to claim such compensation if employeers have good reason to terminate their contract. Obviously, you need to form bodies to tackle this issues, right.

2. Propose a small levy like USD1.0 per head then use this to compensate unfortunate OFW. This amount is enough to use for OFW retraining or as a financial support so that they become entrepreneur, business capital, etc… please… don’t corrupt the money as we OFW really suffering here abroad… try to become OFW to experience it.

3. Use present levy you are implementing to us, OFW like ??? taxes, etc… honestly its very huge and enough to compensate unfortunate OFW and their family.

Let us joint together and give helping hand towards better Philippines.

God Bless Philippines

In other words they want you to come home and use the local agents who will come across with usual Baldoz’s SOPs . I agree with EdV that direct hires must register by any means primarily with the embassy or consulates. High time registration should be possible thru the IT and also payments of the insurance, attn POEA and OWWA. There are other private insurers that can take care of you at your work place.

don’t just suspend that MC but eradicate it totally! lalo lang dadami ang undocumented OFWs dahil dyan! ulol talaga ang gobyerno natin!! hindi na nakakatulong nakakapirwisyo pa!!!!

“Gov’t hopes to draw OFWs back home to help expand economy”

Well….that’s by default one of Gov’t top priorities. Not new.

But how timely the publicity is, in line with MC-04 a. Ano ba iniisip nitong mga to sa paglalabas ng ganitong mga statements?

Edi patunay nga na hinihigpitan ninyo ang paglabas ng mga OFW, kasi gusto ninyo na dito na lang sila……pero my dear, wala pa rin pong sasalo sa mga OFW dito sa Pinas.

Kaya i-abolish nyo muna iyang MC-04 nyo, kapag say dropped to 5% na lang ang mga OFW sa labas at yung 95% e may sari-sarili ng work o business dito sa Pinas, tsaka na ninyo iimplement yang MC04 nyo, para talagang yung 5% na iyun e HIGHLY-HIgher needed ng foreign companies (yun mala-scientist ba).

Pero iyun e kung existing pa ang POEA by that time….

kapisssh!

Can Inquirer or other people give us what are the pros and cons of this memo? I only read the cons of this. I assume that this will help minimize (not eradicate) illegal recruiters and Filipinos going to wrong employers (ill-tempered).

The POEA should make a detailed study of who among the working class should be bound by this considering that if you are hired as a professional and by a well known (global) employer, there won’t be much problems.

In my opinion (and i know I will truly receive a lot of negative reactions), as long as the POEA should categorically define who are included in this, then I think it wouldn’t be much a hassle. I haven’t heard not even a single OFW friend who are auditors that they were mistreated or had horrifying experiences. Hence, I guess this memo should only apply to other sectors (i.e. domestic helpers, caregivers???) so that they will be protected. I heard a lot of sad stories especially those going to middle east.

My suggestion is that, instead of coming up with a drastic solution (memo), POEA should do the following:
(1) work with other countries in protecting the rights of OFW.

(2) Instead of requesting employers to post bonds, the embassy in that country should do a background check (similar to a credit investigation) of the prospective employer.

(3) Aside from the above mentioned suggestions, the POEA should classify each sector by country/area where there are rampant maltreatment and violations of human rights. The higher the violations, the more requirements are required and stricter background check is needed.

I know this will take much time but at least we are assured that our fellow OFW are in safe hands.

By the way, thanks for the article. It is quite informative.

Hoi, basurang gobyerno ng Pilipinas, especially the POEA and other government agencies na pulos mga pulpol ang mga naka-upo sa mga walang kuwentang mesa at upuan: please leave us OFWs alone, we DO NOT need your help!!I applied and went abroad on my own without the aid from the Philippine govt.In fact, the Philippine govt, particularly the Immigration Department, tried to extort money from me so I can catch my plane out of this crap-forsaken country of ours. You stinking corrupt and hell-bound government officials, PLEASE LEAVE US OFWs ALONE!!!

Nice one OFW-Auditors. Well-written suggestions in a very constructive way.

Not everyone had a bad experience with POEA. And POEA is not comprised of these people only, who came up with this MC4 idea. So, DON’T blame the POEA as a whole, much more the government.

If one OFW commits a crime. You will not like to hear, “ALL OFWs are like HIM!” Or worse than that, “ALL FILIPINOS ARE LIKE HIM!”

First of all, I want to thank our president for her immediate action on this issue who directed POEA to immediately suspend the implementation of MC4 and to relax the rules on Direct Hiring of Professionals last Feb 14, 2008.

I am for the total scrapping of MC4 provisions (not just temporarily suspending its implementation) and below are my personal opinions.

To start with, I’m sorry to say that issuance of MC4 was not well thought of. Apparently, the provisions were designed around Contractual OFW’s and Rank & Files but was targeted to everybody. For me, this was the number one mistake of MC4.

In addition, the guidelines were so vague that POEA even have to issue a Q&A after MC4 official release trying to redefine the required Repatriation and Performance Bonds, justify the small percentage of Direct Hires, stating its ultimate objectives of protecting the OFW’s, etc., etc. Even assuming its true that only US$55 will be spent by a foreign employer on an OFW if the bonds are issued by a Philippine Bonding company, do we really think these employers will go into the hassle of complying just to hire a Filipino? What was the basis of US$55 total for both Repatriation and Performance Bonds? Was it based on a 3 months salary of a DH for the Performance Bond?

If we analyze the situation and really wants to protect the welfare of OFW’s without having them loose their competitiveness in the job market and adding to our bureaucratic red tapes, we don’t need the provisions of MC4.

Implementing MC4 provisions will only reduce the opportunities of aspiring Filipino talents to work abroad. If utmost protection of OFW’s means not allowing them to work abroad, then the provisions of MC4 must and by all means, be implemented immediately.
Look at some if not most of OFW’s having problems abroad. They were hired through agencies, legit or illegal recruiters. Yet, MC4 was only targeted to Direct Hires. This means that even assuming we have MC4 in place, we will still continue to experience problems. May we know the degree of OFW problems committed on Direct Hires? For the information of POEA, the bulk of these Direct Hires specifically in HK and China are for Professionals. Most of them are highly skilled Filipinos who are assigned to senior management or executive positions. Some of them are not even hired as Contractual Employees but are on Permanent or Regular status. And, for those hired as Permanent Employees, their Employment Agreements or Appointments do not necessarily show provisions for repatriation. First, because the employers used a standard Employment Agreement based on their applicable labor laws and practices. Second, because they’re supposedly hired as permanent or regular employees. And lastly, because these employees can afford to go back home at their own expense. With the proximity of China or HK to the Philippines, they can even go back more than twice a year.

So what can POEA really do to help and protect our OFW’s?

1. Help ensure that OWWA will have enough funds to support those OFW’s in need of repatriation, legal assistance, etc., etc. After all, we OFW’s have contributed funds to OWWA for these needs as well.
2. Put a stop to illegal recruiters. Work with our law makers to ensure we will have severe penalties to offenders.
3. Cut Red Tapes instead of adding, e.g. MC4, to encourage more foreign employers to hire Filipinos. Work closely with foreign governments so you will be able to promote or discourage countries our OFW hopefuls can venture.

Find ways to improve your services like the Balik Manggagawa application for Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC). I will take this opportunity to touch on this issue. In Cebu for example, a vacationing OFW can spend more than 4 hours just to get an OEC. This is true even for an applicant with valid OWWA, Phil Health, etc. membership or those who doesn’t have to pay for the renewals of these stuffs. Why will it take 4 hours? Simply because it starts with a wrong process. An applicant for OEC is required to fill up the same OFW Information Sheet he/she have filed during the first registration process. The filled up form and passport will be submitted for review by an officer before finding out from the succeeding processes that the applicant still have active memberships for OWWA and Phil Health. The queue alone for OFW Info Sheet and Passport review may take hours depending on the volumes being processed. Why can’t the process start screening using the E-Card of an OFW to determine whether he/she needs to undergo a longer process of filling up OFW Info Sheet, etc., etc. or a shorter one by simply paying the P100 fee for the OEC? The last time I went into this ordeal, I was very surprised to learn that there was supposedly a one year multiple entry OEC. This means that vacationing OFW’s with active memberships for OWWA and Phil Health do not have to go to POEA/OWWA and get OEC before returning abroad for work. This is a good move specifically for those OFW’s who can return home several times within a year. I was both happy and sad though. Happy to realize that after all, somebody at POEA is thinking about improving efficiency and cutting red tapes. But, when I asked for it, I was told that I can only apply and get it from the head office in Manila. If not yet done, I hope this will soon be available nationwide.
4. Make sure you have competent personnel assigned to review Employment Contracts or Agreements.
5. Please consult or seek suggestions from the OFW community should you be issuing new set of rules and/or guidelines affecting OFW’s.

And please remember, DO NOT PUNISH ALL FOR THE SINS OF THE FEW!

THE STENCH OF GREED IS ALL OVER THIS ISSUE: FILIPINOS WORKING FOR GMA’S REGIME IMPOSING RULES IN ORDER TO SUCK BLOOD OUT OF OFW! HERE IS MY RESPONSE TO THIS AS READ FROM TWO OFW DISCUSSING THE ISSUE OF THEIR HOMELAND’S SAD SCENARIO, A COMMENTARY ON THE EFFECT OF EDSA REVOLUTION:

“EDSA II HAPPENED BECAUSE THE SO CALLED ELITE, ENLIGHTENED SOCIETY WAS IGNORANT OF THE LAW AND DISRESPECTFUL OF THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE TO GOVERN THE COUNTRY. THE CONSTITUTION, BEING A GUARANTOR OF THE PEOPLES’ RIGHT TO RULE THEMSELVES THROUGH CLEAN ELECTION WAS DISREGARDED. THIS IS THE REAL ISSUE, THE WRONGS THAT LED THE RIGHTEOUS, THE IGNORANT, THE HAMBUGS, AND THE LIARS AND CHEATERS TO REIGN. MAY GOD BLESS OUR MOTHERLAND AND SAVE IT FROM THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT LED TO EDSA II. reposted by G….

Thanks, Loverly….I am very tired of the Philippine issues at this point. I don’t even feel that excitement when I am faced with the prospect of going back to visit. Filipinos will listen to what they like to hear, read who they like to read, and continue on with their comfort level. Only the poor and the hungry are the one’s complaining, that is if they still have the strength to complain or have not become victims to increasing criminality in the country.

Filipinos who are eating on time and are said to be educated….do not have that dedication to the rule of law, nor the will to fight for what they believe in; the reason why it will take many more generations to come or perhaps, even a bloody revolution …before the country can change for the better. To be a country that lives by the rule of law is to have a population with integrity and high moral standards. So we are back to what you are talking about…our pagkatao. I am tired of the Philippines’ issue…. I don’t even read the newspapers because nayayamot lang ako.

Take care…..”

mas gugustuhin ko pang magtrbho dito sa abroad sa walang kwentang employer pro magbigay naman nga sweldo bawat buwan kaisa uuwi ako nga pinas.. na.mas delikado ang buhay kung wala akong trabaho….

yang bang si baldoz na yan ay may kamag anak na ofw? i guess wala kasi wla syang alam eh magaling lang syang mag isip na mga pakana. pero matalino sya ha kasi nakaisip sya ng isang malaking kabulastugan para sa mga ofw’s na tulad ng mc 4 na yan. yun nga lang sa sobrang talino eh natatabunan ng kung anu anung ang utak nya kaya sya nagkakaganyan. napakawalang**ya hindi na nahiya!!!! kung nalalaman nya lang ang pinagdadaanan ng mga bawat ofw’s sa boung mundo magawa nya pa kaya ang mga kahunghangan nyang ito. the govt shud do something abt this. may karma para sa mga taong wlang puso, kaluluwa at hiya magtagumpay man sila sa maiitim nilang balak at bulok na budhi may kalalagyan din sila kung hindi ngayon malay natin baka bukas diyos na ang bahala sa kanila sa impyerno nmn ang tuloy nila.

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