Migrant Workers Secretary Toots Ople states requiring departing OFWs to put on PPE sets is ‘outdated, misguided, and oppressive’
MANILA, Philippines – Migrant Workers Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople has purchased recruitment agencies to prevent requiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to put on personal protective gear (PPE) sets when departing the nation.
An order came after Senator Pia Cayetano required notice of several departing OFWs putting on full PPE – including face shields, mitts, and footsies – in the Ninoy Aquino Worldwide Airport terminal.
“It’s such as the height of ridiculousness you need to put on individuals footsies since they’re travelling the entire airport terminal where lots of people enter, walk around every single day. So there’s nothing hygienic about finding yourself in footsies, instead of finding yourself in your regular rubber footwear or walking footwear,” Cayetano stated inside a press statement on Thursday, September 22.
“I hope we are able to help our OFWs so they won’t be required to pay extra to visit for work, plus they do not have to visit in this sort of discomfort,” she added.
Inside a statement on Saturday, September 24, Ople stated she agreed with Cayetano, which the PPE requirement of OFWs is “outdated, misguided, and oppressive.”
“I regret not getting issued this order much earlier to spare our OFWs the anguish of visiting the airport terminal entirely PPE attire,” stated Ople.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, that is still functioning underneath the Department of Migrant Workers as the department continues to be in transition, issued Advisory No. 62 number of 2022 stating that the POEA hasn’t mandated using PPE sets for OFWs.
POEA officer-in-charge Bernard Olalia stated within the advisory by using the easing of domestic and worldwide travel rules, along with the loosening of COVID-19 protocols within the Philippines, “the POEA reiterates that needs within the deployment and travel of OFWs should also be relaxed.”
“All licensed agencies therefore are hereby advised from the aforestated guidance in the POEA on using PPE, in conjuction with the minimum public safety and health guidelines presently being implemented within the Philippines as well as in countries of destination,” Olalia added.
Based on the DMW, some PPE needs range from employers and never the companies, which the companies simply comply.
The DMW stated a manning agency told Ople that certain of the Japanese principals still requires putting on of PPE sets and masks for Filipino crew bound for Japan, since thousands of new COVID-19 cases continue to be reported in the united states.
The department also understood of the Chinese shipping one requires its local manning agency to provide PPEs to embarking crew to avoid infection when traveling, with the price of the PPE sets shouldered through the employer.
Still, the company dealing with japan principals stated it might adhere to the POEA’s advisory.
“The DMW firmly believes that getting vaccines plus booster shots and putting on goggles provide sufficient protection to the overseas workers. Until otherwise suggested by our overall health officials, the POEA advisory against mandatory putting on of PPEs for the OFWs by their particular recruitment and manning agencies shall stay in pressure,” Ople stated.
The migrant workers department noted that Taiwan and also the US have relaxed their protocols for incoming foreign workers. In america, airlines require just the presentation of vaccination certificates
