DOLE to keep all labor offices abroad

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is retaining all the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) abroad despite a possible decline in the number of overseas Filipino workers due to an impending deployment ban to at least 41 receiving countries.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz yesterday said her department has no intention of trimming down the number of labor offices abroad next year.

“We have no plans to reduce our POLOs because our budget for next year has not been cut down,” Baldoz said in an interview.

Baldoz noted that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) planned to reduce the number of embassies in an effort to minimize their annual expenses.

“But unlike DFA, we only have very few POLOs, only 39 out of the more than 100 countries hiring OFWs so there is really no need to cut down,” Baldoz said.

She added, however, that the DOLE has no plans to establish more POLOs since the necessary augmentation during emergencies would come from the Office of the President.

“When the need arises like during the hostilities in Yemen and Syria, the Office of the President’s Rapid Quick Response Team would serve as our augmentation so we will maintain the number of our regular workers abroad,” she said.

Last year, DOLE issued guidelines on ethical behavior that all personnel at the POLOs should observe at all times.

Baldoz said she issued the guidelines to ensure that labor officers abroad would discharge their functions and deliver DOLE programs and services to OFWs onsite not only with the highest degree of excellence and professionalism, but also with unquestionable integrity.

As DOLE representatives abroad, Baldoz said POLO personnel must work to ensure OFWs’ welfare and protection.

The recruitment industry warned of a sharp decline in the hiring of OFWs abroad once the Philippine government imposes the deployment ban to at least 41 countries.

Upon the recommendation of the DFA, the DOLE and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) ordered a ban on deployment to 41 countries considered incapable of providing protection to OFWs.

The POEA, however, is looking at the possibility of deferring the implementation of the ban.