‘Health workers migration ban legal’

MANILA, Philippines — Stopping the migration of healthcare workers to protect them from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is perfectly legal, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said preventing the departure of health workers to shield them from the virus is a valid exercise of police power.

“Perfectly legal. In fact, that’s pursuant to the general welfare clause. It is an exercise of police power because the primary basis for the President’s concern is that these people are going to the most dangerous places as far as COVID-19 is concerned,” Roque told ABS-CBN News Channel.

“Of course, if we are restricting travel to these places, why are we allowing them now to work in these places? I think it’s a valid exercise of police power but he’s still exploring it. That’s why he asked the Department of Justice to look into the matter,” he added.

Roque noted that some of the possible destinations of health workers include the United States, Italy and Spain – among the countries with the most number of COVID-19 cases.

“At the same time, of course, there’s the issue of how about our own needs? So we are also looking into that particular reasoning as a valid exercise of police power,” he added.

Last Monday, Duterte ordered the justice department to look into the legality of stopping Filipino health workers from migrating to countries affected by COVID-19.

“The problem, I said, is we’ll have to look into this again. It has to be this week. Maybe two days from now, we’ll have to meet again and consult legal, (Justice) Secretary (Menardo) Guevarra whether or not it would be legal for us to just stop the migration of health workers simply because they are being taken in in a place where there is so much (risk),” the President said. “Please do not misunderstand me. I am making it clear now. I do not want you to go there and come back in a coffin. That’s my... only argument if you may because you are Filipinos and I love the life of my countrymen,” he added. Last month, the government suspended the sending of healthcare workers abroad to ensure that the Philippines has enough manpower in its fight against COVID-19. Workers’ groups have opposed the policy, saying it prevents health workers from looking for better opportunities abroad, violates the right to travel and promotes involuntary servitude. The government then amended the restriction and allowed those with perfected and signed overseas employment contracts as of March 8, 2020 to leave.

Meanwhile, Sen. Cynthia Villar called on the government to address the problem of stranded

displaced workers in various parts of Luzon who are experiencing hunger.

A majority of these workers are reportedly employed in the construction sector.

“I agree with those who say that there is a ‘humanitarian crisis in the making’ in the current situation of those laborers who are not only stranded in their workplaces away from their families, but cannot help themselves and their families since they have no source of income. It’s doubly difficult for them,” she said.

The senator said a majority of the stranded workers are in the National Capital Region and Calabarzon.

The employers can provide for their transport or accommodation if necessary, Villar said.- Paolo Romero