POEA to prosecute employees involved in human trafficking

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) chief Carlos Cao Jr. yesterday promised to prosecute officials and employees of the agency discovered involved in human smuggling.

“The moment the investigation would come up, we will cooperate with authorities. To the fullest extent of the law, we will cooperate with the prosecution,” Cao said.

There were reports of supposed collusion between personnel of the POEA and illegal recruiters in smuggling Filipino workers abroad.

Cao noted, however, that conflict within factions in the agency may have set off allegations of involvement in human trafficking by POEA personnel.

“I have to carefully weight everything because (the report) might be an offshoot of destablization efforts on the part of one faction,” Cao pointed out.

He said, however, that he would act accordingly is any personnel is proven to be involved in human trafficking. “When it is necessary for us, we will act with dispatch, firmness and determination,” Cao said.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV earlier filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the supposed collusion between POEA employees and illegal recruiters.

A POEA employee had also filed criminal charges against other employees for alleged involvement in human trafficking.

At the same time, Cao announced that the POEA is limiting the deployment of domestic helpers overseas to concentrate on the deployment of Filipino workers for “high value” jobs.

“We are aiming for quality deployment and high valued jobs and reduced HSWs (household service workers) who are the most vulnerable. This is going to be our direction,” he said. The government will not impose a ban on deployment of domestic helpers overseas but it discourages women from seeking work as household workers abroad.

“It won’t be that drastic. We will just be discouraging women who are planning to work as household workers abroad from leaving the country. We believe women should just stay at home and take care of their children and let the husband undergo training to be able to seek high paying jobs abroad,”Cao said.

He said the POEA would strictly implement the HSWs reform package requiring foreign employers to provide a minimum monthly salary for Filipino household workers. The reform package, issued in 2006, resulted to a significant drop in hiring of Filipino domestic workers during the initial implementation.

Last year, however, there was a sudden surge in the number of Filipinos seeking domestic jobs abroad, fearing the imposition of a deployment ban on household workers.

Cao said he is negotiating with the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority to provide free skills training for women.

“Instead of working as lowly household workers abroad, Filipino women can avail of TESDA skills training that would make them qualify for high paying employment,” he said. POEA deputy administrator Noriel Devanadera said they are also looking into adopting a “living-out” arrangement for Filipino household workers.

“We are looking at a European model wherein HSWs would not be living with their employers just like other Filipino professionals,” he said.