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ooREPUBLIC ACT NO. 8042

Migrant Workers and Oerseas

!i"i#inos A$t o% &''(

An a$t to instit)te t*e #o"i$ies o% oerseas e+#"o,+ent and esta-"is* a *ig*er standard o%

#rote$tion and #ro+otion o% t*e e"%are o% +igrant orkers/ t*eir %a+i"ies and oerseas !i"i#inos

in distress/ and %or ot*er #)r#oses.

Be it ena$ted -, t*e enate and 1o)se o% Re#resentaties o% t*e P*i"i##ines in Congress

asse+-"ed

EC. &. 1ORT TITLE. 3 T*is a$t s*a"" -e knon and $ited as t*e Migrant Workers and

Oerseas !i"i#inos A$t o% &''(.

EC. 2. 5ECLARATION O! POLICIE33

6a7 In t*e #)rs)it o% an inde#endent %oreign #o"i$, and *i"e $onsidering nationa"

soereignt,/ territoria" integrit,/ nationa" interest and t*e rig*t to se"%3deter+ination #ara+o)nt in

its re"ations it* ot*er states/ t*e tate s*a""/ at a"" ti+es/ )#*o"d t*e dignit, o% its $itiens *et*er

in $o)ntr, or oerseas/ in genera"/ and !i"i#ino +igrant orkers/ in #arti$)"ar.

"(a) In the pursuit of an independent foreign policy and while considering national sovereignty,territorial integrity, national interest and the right to self-determination paramount in its relations withother states, the State shall, at all times, uphold the dignity of its citizens whether in country oroverseas, in general, and Filipino migrant workers, in particular, continuously monitor internationalconventions, adopt!e signatory to and ratify those that guarantee protection to our migrant workers,and endeavor to enter into !ilateral agreements with countries hosting overseas Filipino workers"

6-7 T*e tate s*a"" a%%ord %)"" #rote$tion to "a-or/ "o$a" and oerseas/ organied and

)norganied/ and #ro+ote %)"" e+#"o,+ent and e9)a"it, o% e+#"o,+ent o##ort)nities %or a"".

Toards t*is end/ t*e tate s*a"" #roide ade9)ate and ti+e", so$ia"/ e$ono+i$ and "ega" seri$es

to !i"i#ino +igrant orkers.

6$7 W*i"e re$ogniing t*e signi%i$ant $ontri-)tion o% !i"i#ino +igrant orkers to t*e

nationa" e$ono+, t*ro)g* t*eir %oreign e:$*ange re+ittan$es/ t*e tate does not #ro+ote

oerseas e+#"o,+ent as a +eans to s)stain e$ono+i$ grot* and a$*iee nationa" dee"o#+ent.

T*e e:isten$e o% t*e oerseas e+#"o,+ent #rogra+ rests so"e", on t*e ass)ran$e t*at t*e dignit,

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and %)nda+enta" *)+an rig*ts and %reedo+s o% t*e !i"i#ino $itiens s*a"" not/ at an, ti+e/ -e

$o+#ro+ised or io"ated. T*e tate/ t*ere%ore/ s*a"" $ontin)o)s", $reate "o$a" e+#"o,+ent

o##ort)nities and #ro+ote t*e e9)ita-"e distri-)tion o% ea"t* and t*e -ene%its o% dee"o#+ent.

6d7 T*e tate a%%ir+s t*e %)nda+enta" e9)a"it, -e%ore t*e "a o% o+en and +en and t*e

signi%i$ant ro"e o% o+en in nation3-)i"ding. Re$ogniing t*e $ontri-)tion o% oerseas +igrant

o+en orkers and t*eir #arti$)"ar )"nera-i"ities/ t*e tate s*a"" a##", gender sensitie $riteria

in t*e %or+)"ation and i+#"e+entation o% #o"i$ies and #rogra+s a%%e$ting +igrant orkers and t*e

$o+#osition o% -odies tasked %or t*e e"%are o% +igrant orkers.

6e7 !ree a$$ess to t*e $o)rts and 9)asi3;)di$ia" -odies and ade9)ate "ega" assistan$e

s*a"" not -e denied to an, #ersons -, reason o% #oert,. In t*is regard/ it is i+#eratie t*at an

e%%e$tie +e$*anis+ -e instit)ted to ens)re t*at t*e rig*ts and interest o% distressed oerseas

!i"i#inos/ in genera"/ and !i"i#ino +igrant orkers/ in #arti$)"ar/ do$)+ented or )ndo$)+ented/

are ade9)ate", #rote$ted and sa%eg)arded.

"(e) Free access to the courts and #uasi-$udicial !odies and ade#uate legal assistance shall not !edenied to any person !y reason of poverty In this regard, it is imperative that an effectivemechanism !e instituted to ensure that the rights and interest of distressed overseas Filipinos, ingeneral, and Filipino migrant workers, in particular, whether regulardocumented orirregularundocumented, are ade#uately protected and safeguarded"

6%7 T*e rig*t o% !i"i#ino +igrant orkers and a"" oerseas !i"i#inos to #arti$i#ate in t*e

de+o$rati$ de$ision3+aking #ro$esses o% t*e tate and to -e re#resented in instit)tions re"eant

to oerseas e+#"o,+ent is re$ognied and g)aranteed.

6g7 T*e tate re$ognies t*at t*e )"ti+ate #rote$tion to a"" +igrant orkers is t*e

#ossession o% ski""s. P)rs)ant to t*is and as soon as #ra$ti$a-"e/ t*e goern+ent s*a"" de#"o,

and

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s*a"" $oo#erate it* t*e+ in a s#irit o% tr)st and +)t)a" res#e$t.

"(h) %he State recognizes non-governmental organizations, trade unions, workers associations,stakeholders and their similar entities duly recognized as legitimate, are partners of the State in theprotection of Filipino migrant workers and in the promotion of their welfare %he State shall cooperatewith them in a spirit of trust and mutual respect %he significant contri!ution of recruitment and

manning agencies shall from part this partnership"

6I7 =oern+ent %ees and ot*er ad+inistratie $osts o% re$r)it+ent/ introd)$tion/

#"a$e+ent and assistan$e to +igrant orkers s*a"" -e rendered %ree it*o)t #re;)di$e to t*e

#roision o% e$tion >? *ereo%.

Nonet*e"ess/ t*e de#"o,+ent o% !i"i#ino oerseas orkers/ *et*er "and3-ased or sea-ased -, "o$a"seri$e $ontra$tors and +anning agen$ies e+#"o,ing t*e+ s*a"" -e en$o)raged.

A##ro#riate in$enties +a, -e e:tended to t*e+.

EC. >. 5E!INITION. 3 !or #)r#oses o% t*is A$t

6a7 Migrant orker re%ers to a #erson *o is to -e engaged/ is engaged or *as -een

engaged in a ren)+erated a$tiit, in a state o% *i$* *e or s*e is not a "ega" resident to -e )sed

inter$*angea-", it* oerseas !i"i#ino orker.

"(a) "'verseas Filipino worker" refers to a person who is to !e engaged, is engaged or has !eenengaged in a remunerated activity in a state of which he or she is not a citizen or on !oard a vesselnavigating the foreign seas other than a government ship used for miliatry or non-commercialpurposes or on an installation located offshore or on the high seas to !e used interchangea!ly with

migrant worker"

6-7 =ender3sensitiit, s*a"" +ean $ognian$e o% t*e ine9)a"ities and ine9)ities

#rea"ent in so$iet, -eteen o+en and +en and a $o++it+ent to address iss)es it* $on$ern

%or t*e res#e$tie interests o% t*e se:es.

6$7 Oerseas !i"i#inos re%ers to de#endents o% +igrant orkers and ot*er !i"i#ino

nationa"s a-road *o are in distress as +entioned in e$tions 24 and 2? o% t*is A$t.

I. 5EPLO@MENTEC. 4. 5e#"o,+ent o% Migrant Workers 3 T*e tate s*a"" de#"o, oerseas !i"i#ino

orkers on", in $o)ntries *ere t*e rig*ts o% !i"i#ino +igrant orkers are #rote$ted. T*e

goern+ent re$ognies an, o% t*e %o""oing as g)arantee on t*e #art o% t*e re$eiing $o)ntr, %or

t*e #rote$tion and t*e rig*ts o% oerseas !i"i#ino orkers

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6a7 It *as e:isting "a-or and so$ia" "as #rote$ting t*e rig*ts o% +igrant orkers

6-7 It is a signator, to +)"ti"atera" $onentions/ de$"aration or reso")tions re"ating to t*e

#rote$tion o% +igrant orkers

6$7 It *as $on$")ded a -i"atera" agree+ent or arrange+ent it* t*e goern+ent

#rote$ting t*e rig*ts o% oerseas !i"i#ino orkers and

6d7 It is taking #ositie/ $on$rete +eas)res to #rote$t t*e rig*ts o% +igrant orkers.

"S* + Deployment of Migrant Workers.- %he State shall allow the deployment of overseas Filipinoworkers only in countries where the rights of Filipino migrant workers are protected %he governmentrecognizes any of the following as a guarantee on the part of the receiving country for the protectionof the rights of overseas Filipino workers

"(a) It has eisting la!or and social laws protecting the rights of workers, including migrantworkers

"(!) It is a signatory to andor a ratifier of multilateral conventions, declarations or resolutionsrelating to the protection of workers, including migrant workers and

"(c) It has concluded a !ilateral agreement or arrangement with the government on theprotection of the rights of overseas Filipino .orkers

Provided,%hat the receiving country is taking positive, concrete measures to protect the rights ofmigrant workers in furtherance of any of the guarantees under su!paragraphs (a), (!) and (c) hereof

"In the a!sence of a clear showing that any of the aforementioned guarantees eists in the countryof destination of the migrant workers, no permit for deployment shall !e issued !y the &hilippine'verseas mployment /dministration (&'/)

"%he mem!ers of the &'/ 0overning 1oard who actually voted in favor of an order allowing thedeployment of migrant workers without any of the aforementioned guarantees shall suffer thepenalties of removal or dismissal from service with dis#ualification to hold any appointive pu!licoffice for five (2) years, Further, the government official or employee responsi!le for the issuance ofthe permit or for allowing the deployment of migrant workers in violation of this section and in directcontravention of an order !y the &'/ 0overning 1oard prohi!iting deployment shall !e meted thesame penalties in this section

"For this purpose, the 3epartment of Foreign /ffairs, through its foreign posts, shall issue acertification to the &'/, specifying therein the pertinent provisions of the receiving country4s

la!orsocial law, or the conventiondeclarationresolution, or the !ilateral agreementarrangementwhich protect the rights of migrant workers

"%he State shall also allow the deployment of overseas Filipino workers to vessels navigating theforeign seas or to installations located offshore or on high seas whose ownersemployers arecompliant with international laws and standards that protect the rights of migrant workers

"%he State shall likewise allow the deployment of overseas Filipino workers to companies andcontractors with international operations &rovided, %hat they are compliant with standards,

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conditions and re#uirements, as em!odied in the employment contracts prescri!ed !y the &'/ andin accordance with internationally-accepted standards"

EC. (. TERMINATION OR BAN ON 5EPLO@MENT 3 Notit*standing t*e #roisions o%

e$tion 4 *ereo%/ t*e goern+ent/ in #)rs)it o% t*e nationa" interest or *en #)-"i$ e"%are so

re9)ires/ +a,/ at an, ti+e/ ter+inate or i+#ose a -an on t*e de#"o,+ent o% +igrant orkers.

"S* 2 Termination or Ban on Deployment.- 5otwithstanding the provisions of Section + hereof, inpursuit of the national interest or when pu!lic welfare so re#uires, the &'/ 0overning 1oard, afterconsultation with the 3epartment of Foreign /ffairs, may, at any time, terminate or impose a !an onthe deployment of migrant workers"

II. ILLE=AL RECRUITMENT

e$. ?. 5E!INITION. 3 !or #)r#oses o% t*is A$t/ i""ega" re$r)it+ent s*a"" +ean an, a$t

o% $anassing/ en"isting/ $ontra$ting/ trans#orting/ )ti"iing/ *iring/ #ro$)ring orkers and in$")des

re%erring/ $onta$t seri$es/ #ro+ising or adertising %or e+#"o,+ent a-road/ *et*er %or #ro%it or

not/ *en )ndertaken -, a non3"i$ense or non3*o"der o% a)t*orit, $onte+#"ated )nder Arti$"e &>6%7

o% Presidentia" 5e$ree No. 442/ as a+ended/ ot*erise knon as t*e La-or Code o% t*e

P*i"i##ines. Proided/ t*at s)$* non3"i$ense or non3*o"der/ *o/ in an, +anner/ o%%ers or

#ro+ises %or a %ee e+#"o,+ent a-road to to or +ore #ersons s*a"" -e dee+ed so engaged. It

s*a"" "ikeise in$")de t*e %o""oing a$ts/ *et*er $o++itted -, an, #ersons/ *et*er a non"i$ensee/ non3

*o"der/ "i$ensee or *o"der o% a)t*orit,.

6a7 To $*arge or a$$e#t dire$t", or indire$t", an, a+o)nt greater t*an t*e s#e$i%ied in t*e

s$*ed)"e o% a""oa-"e %ees #res$ri-ed -, t*e e$retar, o% La-or and E+#"o,+ent/ or to +ake a

orker #a, an, a+o)nt greater t*an t*at a$t)a"", re$eied -, *i+ as a "oan or adan$e

6-7 To %)rnis* or #)-"is* an, %a"se noti$e or in%or+ation or do$)+ent in re"ation to

re$r)it+ent or e+#"o,+ent

6$7 To gie an, %a"se noti$e/ testi+on,/ in%or+ation or do$)+ent or $o++it an, a$t o%

+isre#resentation %or t*e #)r#ose o% se$)ring a "i$ense or a)t*orit, )nder t*e La-or Code

6d7 To ind)$e or atte+#t to ind)$e a orker a"read, e+#"o,ed to 9)it *is e+#"o,+ent in

order to o%%er *i+ anot*er )n"ess t*e trans%er is designed to "i-erate a orker %ro+ o##ressie

ter+s and $onditions o% e+#"o,+ent

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6e7 To in%")en$e or atte+#t to in%")en$e an, #ersons or entit, not to e+#"o, an, orker

*o *as not a##"ied %or e+#"o,+ent t*ro)g* *is agen$,

6%7 To engage in t*e re$r)it+ent o% #"a$e+ent o% orkers in ;o-s *ar+%)" to #)-"i$ *ea"t*

or +ora"it, or to dignit, o% t*e Re#)-"i$ o% t*e P*i"i##ines

6g7 To o-str)$t or atte+#t to o-str)$t ins#e$tion -, t*e e$retar, o% La-or and

E+#"o,+ent or -, *is d)", a)t*oried re#resentatie

6*7 To %ai" to s)-+it re#orts on t*e stat)s o% e+#"o,+ent/ #"a$e+ent a$an$ies/

re+ittan$es o% %oreign e:$*ange earnings/ se#arations %ro+ ;o-s/ de#art)res and s)$* ot*er

+atters or in%or+ation as +a, -e re9)ired -, t*e e$retar, o% La-or and E+#"o,+ent

6i7 To s)-stit)te or a"ter to t*e #re;)di$e o% t*e orker/ e+#"o,+ent $ontra$ts a##roed

and eri%ied -, t*e 5e#art+ent o% La-or and E+#"o,+ent %ro+ t*e ti+e o% a$t)a" signing t*ereo%

-, t*e #arties )# to and in$")ding t*e #eriod o% t*e e:#iration o% t*e sa+e it*o)t t*e a##roa" o%

t*e 5e#art+ent o% La-or and E+#"o,+ent

6;7 !or an o%%i$er or agent o% a re$r)it+ent or #"a$e+ent agen$, to -e$o+e an o%%i$er or

+e+-er o% t*e Board o% an, $or#oration engaged in trae" agen$, or to -e engaged dire$t", on

indire$t", in t*e +anage+ent o% a trae" agen$,

6k7 To it**o"d or den, trae" do$)+ents %ro+ a##"i$ant orkers -e%ore de#art)re %or

+onetar, or %inan$ia" $onsiderations ot*er t*an t*ose a)t*oried )nder t*e La-or Code and its

i+#"e+enting r)"es and reg)"ations

6"7 !ai")re to a$t)a"", de#"o, it*o)t a"id reasons as deter+ined -, t*e 5e#art+ent o%

La-or and E+#"o,+ent and

6+7 !ai")re to rei+-)rse e:#enses in$)rred -, t*e orkers in $onne$tion it* *is

do$)+entation and #ro$essing %or #)r#oses o% de#"o,+ent/ in $ases *ere t*e de#"o,+ent does

not a$t)a"", take #"a$e it*o)t t*e orkers %a)"t. I""ega" re$r)it+ent *en $o++itted -, a

s,ndi$ate or in "arge s$a"e s*a"" -e $onsidered as o%%ense ino"ing e$ono+i$ sa-otage.

I""ega" re$r)it+ent is dee+ed $o++itted -, a s,ndi$ate $arried o)t -, a gro)# o% t*ree

6>7 or +ore #ersons $ons#iring or $on%ederating it* one anot*er. It is dee+ed $o++itted in "arge

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s$a"e i% $o++itted against t*ree 6>7 or +ore #ersons indiid)a"", or as a gro)#.

T*e #ersons $ri+ina"", "ia-"e %or t*e a-oe o%%enses are t*e #rin$i#a"s/ a$$o+#"i$es and

a$$essories. In $ase o% ;)ridi$a" #ersons/ t*e o%%i$ers *aing $ontro"/ +anage+ent or dire$tion o%

t*eir -)siness s*a"" -e "ia-"e.

"S* 6 Definition.- For purposes of this /ct, illegal recruitment shall mean any act of canvassing,enlisting, contracting, transporting, utilizing, hiring, or procuring workers and includes referring,contract services, promising or advertising for employment a!road, whether for profit or not, whenundertaken !y non-licensee or non-holder of authority contemplated under /rticle 78(f) of&residential 3ecree 5o ++9, as amended, otherwise known as the :a!or *ode of the &hilippines&rovided, %hat any such non-licensee or non-holder who, in any manner, offers or promises for a feeemployment a!road to two or more persons shall !e deemed so engaged It shall likewise includethe following acts, whether committed !y any person, whether a non-licensee, non-holder, licenseeor holder of authority

"(a) %o charge or accept directly or indirectly any amount greater than that specified in theschedule of allowa!le fees prescri!ed !y the Secretary of :a!or and mployment, or tomake a worker pay or acknowledge any amount greater than that actually received !y him asa loan or advance

"(!) %o furnish or pu!lish any false notice or information or document in relation torecruitment or employment

"(c) %o give any false notice, testimony, information or document or commit any act ofmisrepresentation for the purpose of securing a license or authority under the :a!or *ode, orfor the purpose of documenting hired workers with the &'/, which include the act ofreprocessing workers through a $o! order that pertains to noneistent work, work differentfrom the actual overseas work, or work with a different employer whether registered or not

with the &'/

"(d) %o include or attempt to induce a worker already employed to #uit his employment inorder to offer him another unless the transfer is designed to li!erate a worker fromoppressive terms and conditions of employment

"(e) %o influence or attempt to influence any person or entity not to employ any worker whohas not applied for employment through his agency or who has formed, $oined or supported,or has contacted or is supported !y any union or workers4 organization

"(f) %o engage in the recruitment or placement of workers in $o!s harmful to pu!lic health ormorality or to the dignity of the ;epu!lic of the &hilippines

"(h) %o fail to su!mit reports on the status of employment, placement vacancies, remittanceof foreign echange earnings, separation from $o!s, departures and such other matters orinformation as may !e re#uired !y the Secretary of :a!or and mployment

"(i) %o su!stitute or alter to the pre$udice of the worker, employment contracts approved andverified !y the 3epartment of :a!or and mployment from the time of actual signing thereof!y the parties up to and including the period of the epiration of the same without theapproval of the 3epartment of :a!or and mployment

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"($) For an officer or agent of a recruitment or placement agency to !ecome an officer ormem!er of the 1oard of any corporation engaged in travel agency or to !e engaged directlyor indirectly in the management of travel agency

"(k) %o withhold or deny travel documents from applicant workers !efore departure formonetary or financial considerations, or for any other reasons, other than those authorized

under the :a!or *ode and its implementing rules and regulations

"(l) Failure to actually deploy a contracted worker without valid reason as determined !y the3epartment of :a!or and mployment

"(m) Failure to reim!urse epenses incurred !y the worker in connection with hisdocumentation and processing for purposes of deployment, in cases where the deploymentdoes not actually take place without the worker4s fault Illegal recruitment when committed !ya syndicate or in large scale shall !e considered an offense involving economic sa!otageand

"(n) %o allow a non-Filipino citizen to head or manage a licensed recruitmentmanning

agency

"Illegal recruitment is deemed committed !y a syndicate if carried out !y a group of three (8) or morepersons conspiring or confederating with one another It is deemed committed in large scale ifcommitted against three (8) or more persons individually or as a group

"In addition to the acts enumerated a!ove, it shall also !e unlawful for any person or entity to committhe following prohi!ited acts

"(7) 0rant a loan to an overseas Filipino worker with interest eceeding eight percent (

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"(>) For a recruitmentmanning agency or a foreign principalemployer to pass on theoverseas Filipino worker or deduct from his or her salary the payment of the cost ofinsurance fees, premium or other insurance related charges, as provided under thecompulsory worker4s insurance coverage

"%he persons criminally lia!le for the a!ove offenses are the principals, accomplices and

accessories In case of $uridical persons, the officers having ownership, control, management ordirection of their !usiness who are responsi!le for the commission of the offense and theresponsi!le employeesagents thereof shall !e lia!le

"In the filing of cases for illegal recruitment or any of the prohi!ited acts under this section, theSecretary of :a!or and mployment, the &'/ /dministrator or their duly authorizedrepresentatives, or any aggrieved person may initiate the corresponding criminal action with theappropriate office For this purpose, the affidavits and testimonies of operatives or personnel fromthe 3epartment of :a!or and mployment, &'/ and other law enforcement agencies whowitnessed the acts constituting the offense shall !e sufficient to prosecute the accused

"In the prosecution of offenses punisha!le under this section, the pu!lic prosecutors of the

3epartment of ?ustice shall colla!orate with the anti-illegal recruitment !ranch of the &'/ and, incertain cases, allow the &'/ lawyers to take the lead in the prosecution %he &'/ lawyers whoact as prosecutors in such cases shall !e entitled to receive additional allowances as may !edetermined !y the &'/ /dministrator

"%he filing of an offense punisha!le under this /ct shall !e without pre$udice to the filing of casespunisha!le under other eisting laws, rules or regulations"1avvphi1

EC. . PENALTIE 3

6a7 An, #erson %o)nd g)i"t, o% i""ega" re$r)it+ent s*a"" s)%%er t*e #ena"t, o% i+#rison+ent

o% not "ess t*an si: 6?7 ,ears and one 6&7 da, -)t not +ore t*an te"e 6&27 ,ears and a %ine not

"ess t*an to *)ndred t*o)sand #esos 6P200/000.007 nor +ore t*an %ie *)ndred t*o)sand #esos

6P(00/000.007.

6-7 T*e #ena"t, o% "i%e i+#rison+ent and a %ine o% not "ess t*an %ie *)ndred t*o)sand

#esos 6P(00/000.007 nor +ore t*an one +i""ion #esos 6P&/000/000.007 s*a"" -e i+#osed i% i""ega"

re$r)it+ent $onstit)tes e$ono+i$ sa-otage as de%ined *erein.

Proided/ *oeer/ t*at t*e +a:i+)+ #ena"t, s*a"" -e i+#osed i% t*e #erson i""ega"",

re$r)ited is "ess t*an eig*teen 6&87 ,ears o% age or $o++itted -, a non3"i$ensee or non3*o"der o%

a)t*orit,.

"S* > Penalties.-

"(a) /ny person found guilty of illegal recruitment shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment ofnot less than twelve (79) years and one (7) day !ut not more than twenty (9@) years and a

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fine of not less than 'ne million pesos (&7,@@@,@@@@@) nor more than %wo million pesos(&9,@@@,@@@@@)

"(!) %he penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of not less than %wo million pesos(&9,@@@,@@@@@) nor more than Five million pesos (&2,@@@,@@@@@) shall !e imposed if illegalrecruitment constitutes economic sa!otage as defined therein

"&rovided, however, %hat the maimum penalty shall !e imposed if the person illegallyrecruited is less than eighteen (7

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e:$")sie ;)risdi$tion to *ear and de$ide/ it*in ninet, 6'07 $a"endar da,s a%ter %i"ing o% t*e

$o+#"aint/ t*e $"ai+s arising o)t o% an e+#"o,er3e+#"o,ee re"ations*i# or -, irt)e o% an, "a or

$ontra$t ino"ing !i"i#ino orkers %or oerseas de#"o,+ent in$")ding $"ai+s %or a$t)a"/ +ora"/

e:e+#"ar, and ot*er %or+s o% da+ages.

T*e "ia-i"it, o% t*e #rin$i#a"7 +ont*s %or eer, ,ear o% t*e )ne:#ired ter+/ *i$*eer is

"ess.

Non3$o+#"ian$e it* t*e +andator, #eriods %or reso")tions o% $ases #roided )nder t*is

se$tion s*a"" s)-;e$t t*e res#onsi-"e o%%i$ia"s to an, or a"" o% t*e %o""oing #ena"ties

6a7 T*e sa"ar, o% an, s)$* o%%i$ia" *o %ai"s to render *is de$ision or reso")tions it*in

t*e #res$ri-ed #eriod s*a"" -e/ or $a)sed to -e/ it**e"d )nti" t*e said o%%i$ia" $o+#"ies t*ereit*

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6-7 )s#ension %or not +ore t*an ninet, 6'07 da,s

6$7 5is+issa" %ro+ t*e seri$e it* dis9)a"i%i$ations to *o"d an, a##ointie #)-"i$ o%%i$e

%or %ie 6(7 ,ears.

Proided/ *oeer/ t*at t*e #ena"ties *erein #roided s*a"" -e it*o)t #re;)di$e to an,

"ia-i"it, *i$* an, s)$* o%%i$ia" +a, *ae in$)rred )nder ot*er e:isting "as or r)"es and

reg)"ations as a $onse9)en$e o% io"ating t*e #roisions o% t*is #aragra#*.

S* 7@ Money Claims.- 5otwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the :a!or /r!iters ofthe 5ational :a!or ;elations *ommission (5:;*) shall have the original and eclusive $urisdiction tohear and decide, within ninety (A@) calendar days after the filing of the complaint, the claims arisingout of an employer-employee relationship or !y virtue of any law or contract involving Filipinoworkers for overseas deployment including claims for actual, moral, eemplary and other forms ofdamage *onsistent with this mandate, the 5:;* shall endeavor to update and keep a!reast withthe developments in the glo!al services industry

"%he lia!ility of the principalemployer and the recruitmentplacement agency for any and all claimsunder this section shall !e $oint and several %his provision shall !e incorporated in the contract foroverseas employment and shall !e a condition precedent for its approval %he performance !ond tode filed !y the recruitmentplacement agency, as provided !y law, shall !e answera!le for all moneyclaims or damages that may !e awarded to the workers If the recruitmentplacement agency is a

$uridical !eing, the corporate officers and directors and partners as the case may !e, shallthemselves !e $ointly and solidarily lia!le with the corporation or partnership for the aforesaid claimsand damages

"Such lia!ilities shall continue during the entire period or duration of the employment contract andshall not !e affected !y any su!stitution, amendment or modification made locally or in a foreign

country of the said contract

"/ny compromiseamica!le settlement or voluntary agreement on money claims inclusive ofdamages under this section shall !e paid within thirty (8@) days from approval of the settlement !ythe appropriate authority

"In case of termination of overseas employment without $ust, valid or authorized cause as defined !ylaw or contract, or any unauthorized deductions from the migrant worker4s salary, the worker shall !eentitled to the full reim!ursement if his placement fee and the deductions made with interest attwelve percent (79=) per annum, plus his salaries for the unepired portion of his employmentcontract or for three (8) months for every year of the unepired term, whichever is less

"In case of a final and eecutory $udgement against a foreign employerprincipal, it shall !eautomatically dis#ualified, without further proceedings, from participating in the &hilippine 'verseasmployment &rogram and from recruiting and hiring Filipino workers until and unless it fully satisfiesthe $udgement award

"5oncompliance with the mandatory periods for resolutions of case provided under this section shallsu!$ect the responsi!le officials to any or all of the following penalties

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"(a) %he salary of any such official who fails to render his decision or resolution within theprescri!ed period shall !e, or caused to !e, withheld until the said official complies therewith

"(!) Suspension for not more than ninety (A@) days or

"(c) 3ismissal from the service with dis#ualification to hold any appointive pu!lic office for

five (2) years

"Provided, however,%hat the penalties herein provided shall !e without pre$udice to any lia!ilitywhich any such official may have incured under other eisting laws or rules and regulations as aconse#uence of violating the provisions of this paragraph"

EC. &&. MANA5ATOR@ PERIO5 !OR REOLUTION O! ILLE=AL RECRUITMENT

CAE. 3 T*e #re"i+inar, inestigations o% $ases )nder t*is A$t s*a"" -e ter+inated it*in a

#eriod o% t*irt, 6>07 $a"endar da,s %ro+ t*e date o% t*eir %i"ing. W*ere t*e #re"i+inar, inestigation

is $ond)$ted -, a #rose$)tion o%%i$er and a #ri+a %a$ie $ase is esta-"is*ed/ t*e $orres#onding

in%or+ation s*a"" -e %i"ed in $o)rt it*in tent,3%o)r 6247 *o)rs %ro+ t*e ter+ination o% t*e

inestigation. I% t*e #re"i+inar, inestigation is $ond)$ted -, a ;)dge and a #ri+a %a$ie $ase is

%o)nd to e:ist/ #rose$)tion o%%i$er it*in %ort,3eig*t 6487 *o)rs %ro+ t*e date o% re$ei#t o% t*e

re$ords o% t*e $ase.

EC. &2. PRECRIPTIDE PERIO5. 3 I""ega" re$r)it+ent $ases )nder t*is A$t s*a""

#res$ri-e in %ie 6(7 ,ears Proided/ *oeer/ T*at i""ega" re$r)it+ent $ases ino"ing e$ono+i$

sa-otage as de%ined *erein s*a"" #res$ri-e in tent, 6207 ,ears.

EC. &>. !REE LE=AL AITANCE/ PRE!ERENTIAL ENTITLEMENT UN5ER T1E

WITNE PROTECTION PRO=RAM. 3 A +e$*anis+ %or %ree "ega" assistan$e %or i$ti+s o%

i""ega" re$r)it+ent s*a"" -e esta-"is*ed it*in t*e 5e#art+ent o% La-or and E+#"o,+ent in$")ding

its regiona" o%%i$es. )$* +e$*anis+ +)st in$")de $oordination and $oo#eration it* t*e

5e#art+ent o% F)sti$e/ t*e Integrated Bar o% t*e P*i"i##ines/ and ot*er non3goern+enta"

organiations and o")nteer gro)#s.

T*e #roisions o% Re#)-"i$ A$t No. ?'8& to t*e $ontrar,/ notit*standing/ an, #erson

*o is a i$ti+ o% i""ega" re$r)it+ent s*a"" -e entit"ed to t*e Witness Prote$tion Progra+ #roided

t*ere)nder.

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%he first paragraph of Section 78 of ;epu!lic /ct 5o 7 ti+es in eer, 9)arter.

EC. &(. REPATRIATION O! WORGER EMER=ENC@ REPATRIATION !UN5. 3 T*e

re#atriation o% t*e orker and t*e trans#ort o% *is #ersona" -e"ongings s*a"" -e t*e #ri+ar,res#onsi-i"it, o% t*e agen$, *i$* re$r)ited or de#"o,ed t*e orker oerseas. A"" $osts attendant

to re#atriation s*a"" -e -orne -, or $*arged to t*e agen$, $on$erned and

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rei+-)rse+ent -, t*e res#onsi-"e #rin$i#a" or agen$,. 1oeer/ in $ases *ere t*e #rin$i#a" or

re$r)it+ent agen$, $annot -e identi%ied/ a"" $osts attendant to re#atriation s*a"" -e -orne -, t*e

OWWA.

!or t*is #)r#oses/ t*ere is *ere-, $reated and esta-"is*ed an e+ergen$, re#atriation

%)nd )nder t*e ad+inistration $ontro" and s)#erision o% t*e OWWA/ initia"", to $onsist o% one

*)ndred +i""ion #esos 6P&00/000/000.007/ in$")sie o% o)tstanding -a"an$es.

EC. &?. MAN5ATOR@ REPATRIATION O! UN5ERA=E MI=RANT WORGER. 3

U#on dis$oer, or -eing in%or+ed o% t*e #resen$e o% +igrant orkers *ose a$t)a" ages %a""

-e"o t*e +ini+)+ age re9)ire+ent %or oerseas de#"o,+ent/ t*e res#onsi-"e o%%i$ers in t*e

%oreign seri$e s*a"" it*o)t de"a, re#atriate said orkers and adise t*e 5e#art+ent o% !oreign

A%%airs t*ro)g* t*e %astest +eans o% $o++)ni$ation aai"a-"e o% s)$* dis$oer, and ot*er

re"eant in%or+ation.

S* 76 Mandatory &epatriation of %nderage Migrant Workers.- Bpon discovery or !eing informedof the presence of migrant workers whose ages fall !elow the minimum age re#uirement foroverseas deployment, the responsi!le officers in the foreign service shall without delay repatriatesaid workers and advise the 3epartment of Foreign /ffairs through the fastest means ofcommunication availa!le of such discovery and other relevant information %he license of arecruitmentmanning agency which recruited or deployed an underage migrant worker shall !eautomatically revoked and shall !e imposed a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos(&hp 2@@,@@@@@) !ut not more than 'ne million pesos (&hp 7,@@@,@@@@@) /ll fees pertinent to theprocessing of papers or documents in the recruitment or deployment shall !e refunded in full !y theresponsi!le recruitmentmanning agency, without need of notice, to the underage migrant worker orto his parents or guardian %he refund shall !e independent of and in addition to the indemnificationfor the damages sustained !y the underage migrant worker %he refund shall !e paid within thirty(8@) days from the date of the mandatory repatriation as provided for in this /ct"

EC. &. ETABLI1MENT O! RE3PLACEMENT AN5 MONITORIN= CENTER. 3 A

re#"a$e+ent and +onitoring $enter is *ere-, $reated in t*e 5e#art+ent o% La-or and E+#"o,+ent

%or ret)rning !i"i#ino +igrant orkers *i$* s*a"" #roide a +e$*anis+ %or t*eir reintegration into

t*e P*i"i##ine so$iet,/ sere as a #ro+otion *o)se %or t*eir "o$a" e+#"o,+ent/ and ta# t*eir ski""s

and #otentia"s %or nationa" dee"o#+ent.

T*e 5e#art+ent o% La-or and E+#"o,+ent/ t*e Oerseas Workers We"%are

Ad+inistration/ and t*e P*i"i##ine Oerseas E+#"o,+ent Ad+inistration s*a""/ it*in ninet, 6'07

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da,s %ro+ t*e e%%e$tiit, o% t*is A$t/ %or+)"ate a #rogra+ t*at o)"d +otiate +igrant orkers to

#"an %or #rod)$tie o#tions s)$* as entr, into *ig*", te$*ni$a" ;o-s or )ndertakings/ "ie"i*ood and

entre#rene)ria" dee"o#+ent/ -etter age e+#"o,+ent/ and inest+ent o% saings.

!or t*is #)r#ose/ t*e Te$*ni$a" Ed)$ation and ki""s 5ee"o#+ent A)t*orit, 6TE5A7/

t*e Te$*no"og, Lie"i*ood Reso)r$e Center 6TLRC7/ and ot*er goern+ent agen$ies ino"ed in

training and "ie"i*ood dee"o#+ent s*a"" gie #riorit, to ret)rn *o *ad -een e+#"o,ed as

do+esti$ *e"#ers and entertainers.

S* 7> $sta'lishment of (ational &eintegration Center for )verseas Filipino Workers.-/ nationalreintegration center for overseas Filipino workers (5;*') is here!y created in the 3epartment of:a!or and mployment for returning Filipino migrant workers which shall provide a mechanism fortheir reintegration into the &hilippine society, serve as a promotion house for their local employment,and tap their skills and potentials for national development

"%he 3epartment of :a!or and mployment, the 'verseas .orkers .elfare /dministration('../), and the &hilippine 'verseas mployment /dministration (&'/) shall, within ninety (A@)days from the effectivity of this /ct, formulate a program that would motivate migrant workers to planfor productive options such as entry into highly technical $o!s or undertakings, livelihood andentrepreneurial development, !etter wage employment, and investment of savings

"For this purpose, the %echnical ducation and Skills 3evelopment /uthority (%S3/), the%echnology :ivelihood ;esource *enter (%:;*), and other government agencies involved in trainingand livelihood development shall give priority to returnees who had !een employed as domestichelpers and entertainers"

EC. &8. !UNCTION O! T1E RE3PLACEMENT AN5 MONITORIN= CENTER. 3 T*e

$enter s*a"" #roide t*e %o""oing seri$e

6a7 5ee"o# "ie"i*ood #rogra+s and #ro;e$ts %or ret)rning !i"i#ino +igrant orkers in

$oordination it* t*e #riate se$tor

6-7 Coordinate it* a##ro#riate #riate and goern+ent agen$ies t*e #ro+otion/

dee"o#+ent/ re3#"a$e+ent and t*e %)"" )ti"iation o% t*eir #otentia"s

6$7 Instit)te in $oo#eration it* ot*er goern+ent agen$ies $on$erned/ a $o+#)ter-ased in%or+ations,ste+ on ski""ed !i"i#ino +igrant orkers *i$* s*a"" -e a$$essi-"e to a"" "o$a"

re$r)it+ent agen$ies and e+#"o,ers/ -ot* #)-"i$ and #riate

6d7 Proide a #eriodi$ st)d, and assess+ent o% ;o- o##ort)nities %or ret)rning !i"i#ino

+igrant orkers.

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S* 7

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#)rie o% t*is A$t. !or t*is #)r#ose/ t*e Center is en;oined to $o+#e" e:isting )ndo$)+ented orkers toregister it* it it*in si: 6?7 +ont*s %ro+ t*e e%%e$tiit, o% t*is A$t/ )nder #ain o%

*aing *is

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5e#art+ent o% !oreign A%%airs to ens)re a $ontin)o)s netork and $oordinatie +e$*anis+ at t*e

*o+e o%%i$e.

EC. 20. ETABLI1MENT O! A 1ARE5 =ODERNMENT IN!ORMATION @TEM

!OR MI=RATION. 3 An inter3agen$, $o++ittee $o+#osed o% t*e 5e#art+ent o% !oreign A%%airs

and its atta$*ed agen$,/ t*e Co++ission on !i"i#ino Oerseas/ t*e 5e#art+ent o% La-or and

E+#"o,+ent/ t*e P*i"i##ine Oerseas E+#"o,+ent Ad+inistration/ T*e Oerseas Workers

We"%are Ad+inistration/ T*e 5e#art+ent o% To)ris+/ t*e 5e#art+ent o% F)sti$e/ t*e B)rea) o%

I++igration/ t*e Nationa" B)rea) o% Inestigation/ and t*e Nationa" tatisti$s O%%i$e s*a"" -e

esta-"is*ed to i+#"e+ent a s*ared goern+ent in%or+ation s,ste+ %or +igration. T*e interagen$,$o++ittee s*a"" initia"", +ake aai"a-"e to itse"% t*e in%or+ation $ontained in e:isting data

-ases

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%e+a"e +igrant orkers and

6i7 Listing o% oerseas #osts *i$* +a, render assistan$e to oerseas !i"i#inos/ in

genera"/ and +igrant orkers/ in #arti$)"ar.

"S* 9@ $sta'lishment of a +hared overnment -nformation +ystem for Migration.- /ninteragency committee composed of the 3epartment of Foreign /ffairs and its attached agency, the*ommission on Filipinos 'verseas, the 3epartment of :a!or and mployment and its attachedconcerned agencies, the 3epartment of %ourism, the 3epartment of ?ustice the 1ureau ofImmigration, the 5ational 1ureau of Investigation, the 3epartment of the Interior and :ocal0overnment, the 5ational %elecommunications *ommission, the *ommission on Information and*ommunications %echnology, the 5ational *omputer *enter, the 5ational Statistical and*oordination 1oard, the 5ational Statistics 'ffice and other government agencies concerned withoverseas employment shall !e esta!lished to implement a shared government information systemfor migration %he interagency committee shall initially make availa!le to itself the informationcontained in eisting data !asesfiles %he second phase shall involve linkaging of computer facilitieson order to allow free-flow data echanges and sharing among concerned agencies

"%he inter-agency committee shall !e co-chaired !y the 3epartment of Foreign /ffairs and the3epartment of :a!or and mployment %he 5ational *omputer *enter shall provide the necessarytechnical assistance and shall set the appropriate information and communications technologystandards to facilitate the sharing of information among the mem!er agencies

"%he inter-agency committee shall meet regularly to ensure the immediate and full implementation ofthis section and shall eplore the possi!ility setting up a central storage facility for the data onmigration %he progress of the implementation of this section shall !e include in the report to*ongress of the 3epartment of Foreign /ffairs and the 3epartment of :a!or and mployment underSection 88

"%he inter-agency committee shall convene to identify eisting data !ases which shall !e

declassified and shared among mem!er agencies %hese shared data !ases shall initially include,!ut not !e limited to, the following information

"(a) Casterlists of Filipino migrant workersoverseas Filipino classified according tooccupation$o! category, civil status, !y countrystate of destination including visaclassification

"(!) Inventory of pending legal cases involving Filipino migrant workers and other Filipinonationals, including those serving prison terms

"(c) Casterlists of departingarriving Filipinos

"(d) Statistical profile on Filipino migrant workersoverseas Filipinostourists

"(e) 1lacklisted foreignersundesira!le aliens

"(f) 1asic data on legal systems, immigration policies, marriage laws and civil and criminalcodes in receiving countries particularly those with large num!ers of Filipinos

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"(g) :ist of :a!or and other human rights instruments where receiving countries aresignatories

"(h) / tracking system of past and present gender disaggregated cases involving male andfemale migrant workers, including minors and

"(i) :isting of overseas posts which may render assistance to overseas Filipinos, in general,and migrant workers, in particular"

EC. 2&. MI=RANT WORGER LOAN =UARANTEE !UN5. 3 In order to %)rt*er #reent

)ns$r)#)"o)s i""ega" re$r)iters %ro+ taking adantage o% orkers seeking e+#"o,+ent a-road/ t*e

OWWA/ in $oordination it* goern+ent %inan$ia" instit)tions/ s*a"" instit)te %inan$ing s$*e+es

t*at i"" e:#and t*e grant o% #re3de#art)re "oan and %a+i", assistan$e "oan. !or t*is #)r#ose/ a

Migrant Workers Loan =)arantee !)nd is *ere-, $reated and t*e reo"ing a+o)nt o% one

*)ndred +i""ion #esos 6P&00/000/000.007 %ro+ t*e OWWA is set aside as a g)arantee %)nd in

%aor o% #arti$i#ating goern+ent %inan$ia" instit)tions.

EC. 22. RI=1T AN5 EN!ORCEMENT MEC1ANIM UN5ER INTERNATIONAL AN5

RE=IONAL 1UMAN RI=1T @TEM. 3 T*e 5e#art+ent o% !oreign A%%airs is +andated to

)ndertake t*e ne$essar, initiatie s)$* as #ro+otions/ a$$e#tan$e or ad*eren$e o% $o)ntries

re$eiing !i"i#ino orkers to +)"ti"atera" $onention/ de$"aration or reso")tions #ertaining to t*e

#rote$tion o% +igrant orkers rig*ts. T*e 5e#art+ent o% !oreign A%%airs is a"so +andated to +ake

an assess+ent o% rig*ts and aen)es o% redress )nder internationa" and regiona" *)+an rig*ts

s,ste+s t*at are aai"a-"e to !i"i#ino +igrant orkers *o are i$ti+s o% a-)se and io"ation and/

as %ar as #ra$ti$a-"e and t*ro)g* t*e Lega" Assistant %or Migrant Workers A%%airs $reated )nder

t*is A$t/ #)rs)e t*e sa+e on -e*a"% o% t*e i$ti+ i% it is "ega"", i+#ossi-"e to %i"e indiid)a"

$o+#"aints. I% a $o+#"aints +a$*iner, is aai"a-"e )nder internationa" or regiona" s,ste+s/ t*e

5e#art+ent o% !oreign A%%airs s*a"" %)"", a##rise t*e !i"i#ino +igrant orkers o% t*e e:isten$e and

e%%e$tieness o% s)$* "ega" o#tions.

ID. =ODERNMENT A=ENCIE

EC. 2>. ROLE O! =ODERNMENT A=ENCIE. 3 T*e %o""oing goern+ent agen$ies

s*a"" #er%or+ t*e %o""oing to #ro+ote t*e e"%are and #rote$t t*e rig*ts o% +igrant orkers and/

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as %ar as a##"i$a-"e/ a"" oerseas !i"i#inos

6a7 5e#art+ent o% !oreign A%%airs. 3 T*e 5e#art+ent/ t*ro)g* its *o+e o%%i$e or %oreign

#osts/ s*a"" take #riorit, a$tion its *o+e o%%i$e or %oreign #osts/ s*a"" take #riorit, a$tion or +ake

re#resentation it* t*e %oreign a)t*orit, $on$erned to #rote$t t*e rig*ts o% +igrant orkers and

ot*er oerseas !i"i#inos and e:tend i++ediate assistan$e in$")ding t*e re#atriation o% distressed

or -e"eag)ered +igrant orkers and ot*er oerseas !i"i#inos

6-7 5e#art+ent o% La-or and E+#"o,+ent 3 T*e 5e#art+ent o% La-or and E+#"o,+ent

s*a"" see to it t*at "a-or and so$ia" e"%are "as in t*e %oreign $o)ntries are %air", a##"ied to

+igrant orkers and *eneer a##"i$a-"e/ to ot*er oerseas !i"i#inos in$")ding t*e grant o% "ega"

assistan$e and t*e re%erra" to #ro#er +edi$a" $enters or *os#ita"s

6-.&7 P*i"i##ine Oerseas E+#"o,+ent Ad+inistration 3 )-;e$t to dereg)"ation and

#*ase o)t as #roided )nder e$tions 2' and >0 *erein/ t*e Ad+inistration s*a"" reg)"ate #riate

se$tor #arti$i#ation in t*e re$r)it+ent and oerseas #"a$e+ent o% orkers -, setting )# a

"i$ensing and registration s,ste+. It s*a"" a"so %or+)"ate and i+#"e+ent/ in $oordination it*

a##ro#riate entities $on$erned/ *en ne$essar, e+#"o,+ent o% !i"i#ino orkers taking into

$onsideration t*eir e"%are and t*e do+esti$ +an#oer re9)ire+ents.

Republic Act No. 9422 April 10, 2007

AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN THE REGULATOR !UNCT"ONS O! THE #H"L"##"NE O$ERSEASE%#LO%ENT A&%"N"STRAT"ON '#OEA(, A%EN&"NG !OR TH"S #UR#OSE RE#U)L"C ACTNO. *042, OTHER+"SE NO+N AS THE -%"GRANT +ORERS AN& O$ERSEAS !"L"!"NOS

ACT O! 199-

Be it ena"ted 'y the +enate and the o*se of &epresentatives of the Philippines in Congressassem'led

SECT"ON 1.Section 98, paragraph (!7) of ;epu!lic /ct 5o

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"In addition to its powers and functions, the administration shall inform migrant workers notonly of their rights as workers !ut also of their rights as human !eings, instruct and guide theworkers how to assert their rights and provide the availa!le mechanism to redress violationof their rights"

"In the recruitment and placement of workers to service the re#uirements for trained and

competent Filipino workers of foreign governments and their instrumentalies, and such otheremployers as pu!lic interests may re#uire, the administration shall deploy only to countrieswhere the &hilippines has concluded !ilateral la!or agreements or arrangements Provided,%hat such courtries shall guarantee to protect the rights of Filipino migrant workersand Provided, f*rther, %hat such countries shall o!serve andor comply with the internationallaws and standards for migrant workers"

"(!7) &hilippine 'verseas mployment /dministration - %he /dministration shall regulate privatesector participation in the recruitment and overseas placement of workers !y setting up a licensingand registration system It shall also formulate and implement, in coordination with appropriateentities concerned, when necessary, a system for promoting and monitoring the overseasemployment of Filipino workers taking into consideration their welfare and the domestic manpower

re#uirements It shall !e responsi!le for the regulation and management of overseas employmentfrom the pre-employment stage, securing the !est possi!le employment terms and conditions foroverseas Filipino workers, and taking into consideration the needs of vulnera!le sectors and thepeculiarities of sea-!ased and land-!ased workers In appropriate cases, the /dministration shallallow the lifting of suspension of erring recruitmentmanning agencies upon the payment of fine ofFifty thousand pesos (&2@,@@@@@) for every month of suspension

"in addition to its powers and functions, the /dministration shall inform migrant workers not only oftheir rights as workers !ut also of their rights as human !eings, instruct and guide the workers howto assert their rights and provide the availa!le mechanism to redress violation of their rights It shallalso !e responsi!le for the implementation, in partnership with other law-enforcement agencies, ofan intensified program against illegal recruitment activities For this purpose, the &'/ shall providecomprehensive &re-mployment 'rientation Seminars (&'S) that will discuss topics such as

prevention of illegal recruitment and gender-sensitivity

"%he /dministration shall not engage in the recruitment and placement of overseas workers ecepton a government-to-government arrangement only

"In the recruitment and placement of workers to service the re#uirements for trained and competentFilipino workers of foreign governments and their instrumentalitys, and such other employers aspu!lic interests may re#uire, the /dministration shall deploy only to countries where the &hilippinehas conclude !ilateral la!or agreements or arrangements Provided,%hat such countries shallguarantee to protect the rights of Filipino migrant workers and Provided, f*rther,%hat such countriesshall o!serve andor comply with the international laws and standards for migrant workers"

6-.27 Oerseas Workers We"%are Ad+inistration 3 T*e We"%are O%%i$er or in *is a-sen$e/

t*e $oordinating o%%i$er s*a"" #roide t*e !i"i#ino +igrant orker and *is %a+i", a"" t*e assistan$e

t*e, +a, need in t*e en%or$e+ent o% $ontra$t)a" o-"igations -, agen$ies or entities and

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sett"ing t*e $o+#"aints or #ro-"e+s -ro)g*t to *is attention.

"(!9) 'verseas .orkers .elfare /dministration - %he .elfare officer of in his a!sence, thecoordinating officer shall provide the Filipino migrant worker and his family all the assistance theymay need in the enforcement of contractual o!ligations !y agencies or entities andor !y theirprincipals In the performance of this function, he shall make representation and may call on the

agencies or entities concerned to conferences or conciliation meetings for the purpose of settling thecompliance or pro!lems !rought to his attention %he '../ shall likewise formulate and implementwelfare programs for overseas Filipino workers and their families while they are a!road and upontheir return It shall ensure the awareness !y the overseas Filipino workers and their families ofthese programs and other related governmental programs

"In the repatriation of workers to !e undertaken !y '../, the latter shall !e authorized to payrepatriation-related epenses, such as fines or penalties, su!$ect to such guidelines as the '../1oard of %rustees may prescri!e"

c) 3epartment of Dealth - %he 3epartment of Dealth (3'D) shall regulate the activities andoperations of all clinics which conduct medical, physical, optical, dental, psychological and other

similar eaminations, hereinafter referred to as health eaminations, on Filipino migrant workers asre#uirement for their overseas employment &ursuant to this, the 3'D shall ensure that

" (c7) %he fees for the health eaminations are regulated, regularly monitored and dulypu!lished to ensure that the said fees are reasona!le and not eor!itant

" (c9) %he Filipino migrant worker shall only !e re#uired to undergo health eaminationswhen there is reasona!le certainty that he or she will !e hired and deployed to the $o!siteand only those health eaminations which are a!solutely necessary for the type of $o!applied for or those specifically re#uired !y the foreign employer shall !e conducted

" (c8) 5o group or groups of medical clinics shall have a monopoly of eclusively conducting

health eaminations on migrant workers for certain receiving countries

" (c+) very Filipino migrant worker shall have the freedom to choose any of the 3'D-accredited or 3'D-operated clinics that will conduct hisher health eaminations and that hisor her rights as a patient are respected %he decking practice, which re#uires an overseasFilipino worker to go first to an office for registration and then farmed out to a medical cliniclocated elsewhere, shall not !e allowed

" (c2) .ithin a period of three (8) years from the effectivity of this /ct, all 3'D regionalandor provincial hospitals shall esta!lish and operate clinics that can !e serve the healtheamination re#uirements of Filipino migrant workers to provide them easy access to suchclinics all over the country and lessen their transportation and lodging epenses and

" (c6) /ll 3'D-accredited medical clinics, including the 3'D-operated clinics, conductinghealth eaminations for Filipino migrant workers shall o!serve the same standard operatingprocedures and shall comply with internationally-accepted standards in their operations toconform with the re#uirements of receiving countries or of foreign employersprincipals

"/ny Foreign employer who does not honor the results of valid health eaminations conducted !y a3'D-accredited or 3'D-operated clinic shall !e temporarily dis#ualified from the participating in theoverseas employment program, pursuant to &'/ rules and regulations

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"In case an overseas Filipino worker is found to !e not medically fit upon hisher immediate arrival inthe country of destination, the medical clinic that conducted the health eaminations of suchoverseas Filipino worker shall pay for his or her repatriation !ack to the &hilippines and the cost ofdeployment of such worker

"/ny government official or employee who violates any provision of this su!section shall !e removed

or dismissed from service with dis#ualification to hold any appointive pu!lic office for five(2) yearsSuch penalty is without pre$udice to any other lia!ility which he or she may have incurred undereisting laws, rules or regulations

"(d) :ocal 0overnment Bnits - In the fight against illegal recruitment, the local government units(:0Bs), in partnership with the &'/, other concerned government agencies , and non-governmentorganizations advocating the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers, shall take a proactivestance !y !eing primarily responsi!le for the dissemination of information to their constituents on allaspects of overseas employment %o carry out this task, the following shall !e undertaken !y the:0Bs

"(d7) &rovide a venue for the &'/, other concerned government agencies and non-

government organizations to conduct &'S to their constituents on a regular !asis

"(d9) sta!lish overseas Filipino worker help desk or kiosk in their localities with theo!$ective of providing current information to their constituents on all the processes aspects ofoverseas employment Such desk or kiosk shall, as !e linked to the data!ase of allconcerned government agencies, particularly the &'/ for its updated lists of overseas $o!orders and licensed recruitment agencies in good standing"

D. T1E LE=AL AITANT !OR MI=RANT WORGER

EC. 24. LE=AL AITANT !OR MI=RANT WORGER A!!AIR. 3 T*ere is *ere-,

$reated t*e #osition o% Lega" Assistant %or Migrant Workers A%%airs )nder t*e 5e#art+ent o%

!oreign A%%airs *o s*a"" -e #ri+ari", res#onsi-"e %or t*e #roision and oera"" $oordination o% a""

"ega" assistan$e seri$es to -e #roided to !i"i#ino +igrant orkers as e"" as oerseas !i"i#inos

in distress. 1e s*a"" *ae t*e rank/ sa"ar, and #rii"eges e9)a" to t*at o% an )nderse$retar, o% said

5e#art+ent.

T*e said Lega" Assistant %or Migrant Workers A%%airs s*a"" -e a##ointed -, t*e President

and +)st -e o% #roen $o+#eten$e in t*e %ie"d o% "a it* at "east ten 6&07 ,ears o% e:#erien$e as

a "ega" #ra$titioner and +)st not *ae -een a $andidate to an e"e$tie o%%i$e in t*e "ast "o$a" or

nationa" e"e$tions.

A+ong t*e %)n$tions and res#onsi-i"ities o% t*e a%oresaid Lega" Assistant are

6a7 To iss)e t*e g)ide"ines/ #ro$ed)res and $riteria %or t*e #roisions o% "ega" assistan$e

seri$es to !i"i#ino +igrant orkers

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6-7 To esta-"is* $"ose "inkages it* t*e 5e#art+ent o% La-or and E+#"o,+ent/ t*e

POEA/ t*e OWWA and ot*er goern+ent agen$ies $on$erned/ as e"" as it* non3goern+enta"

organiations assisting +igrant orkers/ to ens)re e%%e$tie $oordination and $oo#eration in t*e

#roision o% "ega" assistan$e to +igrant orkers

6$7 To ta# t*e assistan$e o% re#)ta-"e "a %ir+s and t*e Integrated Bar o% t*e P*i"i##ines

and ot*er -ar asso$iations to $o+#"e+ent t*e goern+ents e%%orts to #roide "ega" assistan$e to

+igrant orkers

"( c ) %o tap the assistance of reputa!le law firms, the Integrated 1ar of the &hilippines, other !arassociations and other government legal eperts on overseas Filipino worker laws to complementthe government4s efforts to provide legal assistance to our migrant workers"

6d7 To ad+inister t*e "ega" assistan$e %)nd %or +igrant orkers esta-"is*ed )ndere$tion 2( *ereo% and to a)t*orie dis-)rse+ents t*ere %ro+ in a$$ordan$e it* t*e #)r#oses %or

*i$* t*e %)nd as set )# and

6e7 To kee# and +aintain t*e in%or+ation s,ste+ as #roided in e$tion 20.

T*e "ega" Assistant %or Migrant Workers A%%airs s*a"" *ae a)t*orit, to *ire #riate

"a,ers/ do+esti$ or %oreign/ in order to assist *i+ in t*e e%%e$tie dis$*arge o% t*e a-oe

%)n$tions.

EC. 2(. LE=AL AITANCEW !UN5 3 T*ere is *ere-, esta-"is*ed a "ega" assistan$e

%)nd %or +igrant orkers/ *erein a%ter re%erred to as Lega" Assistan$e %)nd/ in t*e a+o)nt o% One

*)ndred +i""ion #esos 6P&00/000/000.007 to -e $onstit)ted %ro+ t*e %o""oing so)r$es

!i%t, +i""ion #esos 6P(0/000/000.007 %ro+ t*e Contingen$, !)nd o% t*e President

T*irt, +i""ion #esos 6P>0/000/000.007 %ro+ t*e Presidentia" o$ia" !)nd and

Tent, +i""ion #esos 6P20/000/000.007 %ro+ t*e We"%are !)nd %or Oerseas Workers

esta-"is*ed )nder Letter o% Instr)$tion No. (>/ as a+ended -, Presidentia" 5e$ree Nos. &?'4

and &80'.

An, -a"an$es o% e:isting %)nd *i$* *ae -een set aside -, t*e goern+ent s#e$i%i$a"",

as "ega" assistan$e or de%ense %)nd to *e"# +igrant orkers s*a""/ )#on e%%e$tiit, o% t*is A$t/ to

-e t)rned oer to/ and %or+ #art o%/ t*e !)nd $reated )nder t*is A$t.

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S* 92 egal !ssistan"e F*nd.- %here is her!y esta!lished a legal assistance fund for migrantworkers, hereinafter referred to as the :egal /ssistance Fund, in the amount of one hundred millionpesos (&7@@,@@@,@@@@@) to !e constituted from the following sources

"Fifty million pesos (2@,@@@,@@@@@) from the *ontingency Fund of the &resident

"%hirty million pesos (8@,@@@,@@@@@) from the *ontingency Fund of the &resident Social Fund

"%wenty million pesos (9@,@@@,@@@@@) from the .elfare Fund for 'verseas .orkers esta!lishedunder :etter of Instructions 5o 28> as amended !y &residential 3ecree 5os 76A+ and 7

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EC. 2. PRIORIT@ CONCERN O! P1ILIPPINE !OREI=N ERDICE POT. 3 T*e

$o)ntr, tea+ a##roa$*/ as en)n$iated )nder E:e$)tie Order No. 4/ series o% &''>/ s*a"" -e t*e

+ode )nder *i$* P*i"i##ine e+-assies or t*eir #ersonne" i"" o#erate in t*e #rote$tion o% t*e

!i"i#ino +igrant orkers as e"" as in t*e #ro+otion o% t*eir e"%are. T*e #rote$tion o% t*e !i"i#ino

+igrant orkers and t*e #ro+otion o% t*eir e"%are/ in #arti$)"ar/ and t*e #rote$tion o% t*e dignit,

and %)nda+enta" rig*ts and %reedo+s o% t*e !i"i#ino $itien a-road/ in genera"/ s*a"" -e t*e

*ig*est #riorit, $on$erns o% t*e e$retar, o% !oreign A%%airs and t*e P*i"i##ine !oreign eri$e

Posts.

EC. 28. COUNTR@3TEAM APPROAC1. 3 Under t*e $o)ntr,3tea+ a##roa$*/ a""

o%%i$ers/ re#resentaties and #ersonne" o% t*e P*i"i##ine goern+ent #osted a-road regard"ess o%

t*eir +ot*er agen$ies s*a""/ on a #er $o)ntr, -asis/ a$t as one $o)ntr,3tea+ it* a +ission )nder

t*e "eaders*i# o% t*e a+-assador. In t*is regard/ t*e a+-assador +a, re$o++end to t*e

e$retar, o% t*e 5e#art+ent o% !oreign A%%airs t*e re$a"" o% o%%i$ers/ re#resentaties and #ersonne"

o% t*e P*i"i##ine goern+ent #osted a-road %or a$ts ini+i$a" to t*e nationa" interest s)$* as/ -)t

not "i+ited to/ %ai")re to #roide t*e ne$essar, seri$es to #rote$t t*e rig*ts o% oerseas !i"i#inos.

U#on re$ei#t o% t*e re$o++endation o% t*e a+-assador/ t*e e$retar, o% t*e

5e#art+ent o% !oreign A%%airs s*a""/ in t*e $ase o% o%%i$ers/ re#resentaties and #ersonne" o% ot*er

de#art+ents/ endorse s)$* re$o++endation to t*e de#art+ent se$retar, $on$erned %or

a##ro#riate a$tion. Pending inestigation -, an a##ro#riate -od, in t*e P*i"i##ines/ t*e #erson

re$o++ended %or re$a"" +a, -e #"a$ed )nder #reentie s)s#ension -, t*e a+-assador.

In *ost $o)ntries *ere t*ere are P*i"i##ine $ons)"ates/ s)$* $ons)"ates s*a"" a"so

$onstit)te #art o% t*e $o)ntr,3tea+ )nder t*e "eaders*i# o% t*e a+-assador.

In t*e i+#"e+entation o% t*e $o)ntr,3tea+ a##roa$*/ isiting P*i"i##ine de"egations s*a""

-e #roided %)"" s)##ort and in%or+ation.

DII. 5ERE=ULATION AN5 P1AE3OUT

EC. 2'. COMPRE1ENIDE 5ERE=ULATION PLAN ON RECRUITMENT ACTIDITIE.

3 P)rs)ant to a #rogressie #o"i$, o% dereg)"ation *ere-, t*e +igration o% orkers -e$o+es

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stri$t", a +atter -eteen t*e orker and *is %oreign e+#"o,er/ t*e 5OLE it*in one 6&7 ,ear %ro+

t*e e%%e$tiit, o% t*is A$t/ is *ere-, +andated to %or+)"ate a %ie3,ear $o+#re*ensie dereg)"ation

#"an on re$r)it+ent a$tiities taking into a$$o)nt "a-or +arket trends/ e$ono+i$ $onditions o% t*e

$o)ntr, and e+ergen$, $ir$)+stan$es *i$* +a, a%%e$t t*e e"%are o% +igrant orkers.

Section 9A of the same law is here!y repealed

EC. >0. =RA5UAL P1AE3OUT O! RE=ULATOR@ !UNCTION. 3 Wit*in a #eriod o%

%ie 6(7 ,ears %ro+ t*e e%%e$tiit, o% t*is A$t/ t*e 5OLE s*a"" #*ase o)t t*e reg)"ator, %)n$tions o%

t*e POEA #)rs)ant to t*e o-;e$ties o% dereg)"ation.

Section 8@ of the same law is also here!y repealed

DII. PRO!EIONAL AN5 OT1ER 1I=1L@3GILLE5 !ILIPINO ABROA5

EC. >&. INCENTIDE TO PRO!EIONAL AN5 OT1ER 1I=1L@3GILLE5

!ILIPINO ABROA5. 3 P)rs)ant to t*e o-;e$tie o% en$o)raging #ro%essiona"s and ot*er *ig*",ski""ed!i"i#inos a-road es#e$ia"", in t*e %ie"d o% s$ien$e and te$*no"og, to #arti$i#ate in/ and

$ontri-)te to nationa" dee"o#+ent/ t*e goern+ent s*a"" #roide #ro#er and ade9)ate in$enties

and #rogra+s so as to se$)re t*eir seri$es in #riorit, dee"o#+ent areas o% t*e #)-"i$ and

#riate se$tors.

IH. MICELLANEOU PRODIION

EC. >2. POEA AN5 OWWA BOAR5 A55ITIONAL MEMBER1IP. 3 Notit*standing

an, #roision o% "a to t*e $ontrar,/ t*e res#e$tie Boards o% t*e POEA and t*e OWWA s*a""/ in

addition to t*eir #resent $o+#osition/ *ae t*ree 6>7 +e+-ers ea$* *o s*a"" $o+e %ro+ t*e

o+en/ sea3-ased and "and3-ased se$tors/ res#e$tie",/ to -e a##ointed -, t*e President in t*e

sa+e +anner as t*e ot*er +e+-ers.

S* 89 P)$!, )WW! and other Boards# !dditional Mem'erships.- 5otwithstanding any provisionof law to the contrary, the respective 1oards of the &'/ and the '../ shall, in addition to theirpresent composition, have three (8) mem!ers each who shall come from the women, sea-!ased andland-!ased sectors respectively, to !e selected and nominated openly !y the general mem!ership ofthe sector !eing represented

" %he selection and nomination of the additional mem!ers from the women, sea-!ased and land-!ased sectors shall !e governed !y the following guidelines

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"(a) %he &'/ and the '../ shall launch a massive information campaign on theselection of nominees and provide for a system of consultative sessions for the certifiedleaders or representatives of the concerned sectors, at least three (8) times, within ninety(A@) days !efore the !oards shall !e convened, for purposes of selection %he process shall!e open, democratic and transparent

"(!) 'nly non-government organizations that protect and promote the rights and welfare ofoverseas Filipino workers, duly registered with the appropriate &hilippine governmentagency and in good standing as such, and in eistence for at least three (8) years prior to thenomination shall !e #ualified to nominate a representative for each sector to the 1oard

"(c) %he nominee must !e at least twenty-five (92) years of age, a!le to read and write, and amigrant worker at the time of his or her nomination or was a migrant worker with at leastthree (8) years eperience as such and

"(d) / final list of all the nominees selected !y the '../&'/ governing !oards, whichshall consist of three(8) names for each sector to !e represented, shall !e su!mitted to the&resident and pu!lished in a newspaper of general circulation

".ithin thirty (8@) days from the su!mission of the list, the &resident shall select and appoint fromthe list, the representatives to the &'/'../ governing !oards

"%he additional mem!ers shall have a term of three (8) years and shall !e eligi!le for reappointmentfor another three (8) years In case of vacancy, the &resident shall in accordance with the provisionsof this /ct, appoint a replacement who shall serve the unepired term of his or her predecessor

"/ny eecutive issuances or orders issued that contravene the provisions of this section shall haveno force and effect

"/ll other government agencies and government-owned or controlled corporations which re#uire at

least one (7) representative from the overseas workers sector to their respective !oards shall followall the applica!le provisions of this section"

EC. >>. REPORT TO CON=RE. 3 In order to in%or+ t*e P*i"i##ine Congress on t*e

i+#"e+entation o% t*e #o"i$, en)n$iated in e$tion 4 *ereo%/ t*e 5e#art+ent o% !oreign A%%airs

and t*e 5e#art+ent o% La-or and E+#"o,+ent s*a"" s)-+it to t*e said -od, a se+i3ann)a" re#ort

o% P*i"i##ine %oreign #osts "o$ated in $o)ntries *osting !i"i#ino +igrant orkers. T*e re#ort s*a""

not -e "i+ited to t*e %o""oing in%or+ation

S* 88 &eport to Congress.- In order to inform the &hilippine *ongress on the implementation ofthe policy enunciated in Section + hereof, the 3epartment of Foreign /ffairs and the 3epartment of:a!or and mployment shall su!mit separately to the said !ody a semi-annual report of &hilippineforeign posts located in countries hosting Filipino migrant workers %he mid-year report covering theperiod ?anuary to ?une shall !e su!mitted not later than 'cto!er 87 of the same year while the year-end report covering the period ?uly to 3ecem!er shall !e su!mitted not later than Cay 87 of thefollowing year %he report shall include, !ut shall not limited to, the following information

6a7 Master"ist o% !i"i#ino +igrant orkers/ and inentor, o% #ending $ases ino"ing t*e+

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and ot*er !i"i#ino nationa"s in$")ding t*ose sering #rison ter+s

6-7 Working $onditions o% !i"i#ino +igrant orkers

6$7 Pro-"e+s en$o)ntered -, t*e +igrant orkers/ s#e$i%i$a"", io"ations o% t*eir rig*ts

6d7 Initiatie(. EHEMPTION !ROM TRADEL TAH AN5 AIRPORT !EE. 3 A"" "as to t*e

$o)ntr, notit*standing/ t*e +igrant orker s*a"" -e e:e+#t %ro+ t*e #a,+ent o% trae" ta: and

air#ort %ee )#on #ro#er s*oing o% #roo% o% entit"e+ent -, t*e POEA.

S* 82 $/emption from Travel Ta/ Do"*mentary +tamp and !irport Fee.- /ll laws to the contrarynotwithstanding, the migrant workers shall !e eempt from the payment of travel ta and airport-feeupon proper showing of proof entitlement !y the &'/

"%he remittances of all overseas Filipino workers, upon showing of the same proof of entitlement !ythe overseas Filipino worker4s !eneficiary or recipient, shall !e eempt from the payment ofdocumentary stamp ta

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EC. >?. NON3INCREAE O! !EE ABOLITION O! REPATRIATION BON5. 3 U#on

a##roa" o% t*is A$t/ a"" %ees -eing $*arged -, an, goern+ent o%%i$e on +igrant orkers s*a""

re+ain at t*eir #resent "ee"s and t*e re#atriation -ond s*a"" -e esta-"is*ed.

EC. >. T1E CON=REIONAL MI=RANT WORGER C1OLAR1IP !UN5. 3

T*ere is *ere-, $reated a Congressiona" Migrant Workers $*o"ars*i# !)nd *i$* s*a"" -ene%it

desering +igrant orkers and-/ Comp*lsory -ns*ran"e Coverage for !gen"y0ired Workers.- In addition to theperformance !ond to !e filed !y the recruitmentmanning agency under Section 7@, each migrantworker deployed !y a recruitmentmanning agency shall !e covered !y a compulsory insurancepolicy which shall !e secured at no cost to the said worker Such insurance policy shall !e effectivefor the duration of the migrant worker4s employment and shall cover, at the minimum

"(a) /ccidental death, with at least Fifteen thousand Bnited States dollars (BSE7@,@@@@@)survivor4s !enefit paya!le to the migrant worker4s !eneficiaries

"(c) &ermanent total disa!lement, with at least Seven thousand five hundred Bnited States

dollars (BSE>,2@@@@) disa!ility !enefit paya!le to the migrant worker %he followingdisa!ilities shall !e deemed permanent total, complete loss of sight of !oth eyes loss oftwo(9) lim!s at or a!ove the ankles or wrists permanent complete paralysis of two (9) lim!s!rain in$ury resulting to incura!le im!ecility or insanity

"(d) ;epatriation cost of the worker when hisher employment is terminated without any validcause, including the transport of his or her personal !elongings In case of death, theinsurance provider shall arrange and pay for the repatriation or return of the worker4sremains %he insurance provider shall also render any assistance necessary in the transport

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including, !ut not limited to, locating a local licensed funeral home, mortuary or directdisposition facility to prepare the !ody for transport, completing all documentation, o!taininglegal clearances, procuring consular services, providing necessary casket or air transportcontainer, as well as transporting the remains including retrieval from site of death anddelivery to the receiving funeral home

"(e) Su!sistence allowance !enefit, with at least 'ne hundred Bnited States dollars(BSE7@@@@) &er month for a maimum of si (6) months for a migrant worker who isinvolved in a case or litigation for the protection of hisher rights in the receiving country

"(f) Coney claims arising from employer4s lia!ility which may !e awarded or given to theworker in a $udgment or settlement of his or her case in the 5:;* %he insurance coveragefor money claims shall !e e#uivalent to at least three (8) months for every year of the migrantworker4s employment contract

"In addition to the a!ove coverage, the insurance policy shall also include

"(g) *ompassionate visit .hen a migrant worker is hospitalized and has !een confined for

at least seven (>) consecutive days, he shall !e entitled to a compassionate visit !y one (7)family mem!er or a re#uested individual %he insurance company shall pay for thetransportation cost of the family mem!er or re#uested individual to the ma$or airport closestto the place of hospitalization of the worker It is, however, the responsi!ility of the familymem!er or re#uested individual to meet all visa and travel document re#uirements

"(h) Cedical evacuation .hen an ade#uate medical facility is not availa!le proimate to themigrant worker, as determined !y the insurance company4s physician andor a consultingphysician, evacuation under appropriate medical supervision !y the mode of transportnecessary shall !e undertaken !y the insurance provider and

"(i) Cedical repatriation .hen medically necessary as determined !y the attending

physician, repatriation under medical supervision to the migrant worker4s residence shall !eundertaken !y the insurance provider at such time that the migrant worker is medicallycleared for travel !y commercial carrier If the period to receive medical clearance to traveleceeds fourteen (7+) days from the date of discharge from the hospital, an alternativeappropriate mode of transportation, such as air am!ulance, may !e arranged Cedical andnon-medical escorts may !e provided when necessary

"'nly reputa!le private insurance companies duly registered with the Insurance *ommission (I*) ,which are in eistence and operational for at least Five hundred million pesos (&2@@,@@@,@@@@@) to!e determined !y the I*, and with a current year certificate of authority shall !e #ualified to providefor the worker4s insurance coverage Insurance companies who have directors, partners, officers,employees or agents with relatives, within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, whowork or have interest in any of the licensed recruitmentmanning agencies or in any of the

government agencies involved in the overseas employment program shall !e dis#ualified fromproviding this workers4 insurance coverage

"%he recruitmentmanning agency shall have the right to choose from any of the #ualified insuranceproviders the company that will insure the migrant worker it will deploy /fter procuring suchinsurance policy, the recruitmentmanning agency shall provide an authenticated copy thereof to themigrant worker It shall then su!mit the certificate of insurance coverage of the migrant worker to&'/ as a re#uirement for the issuance of an 'verseas mployment *ertificate ('*) to themigrant worker In the case of seafarers who are insured under policies issued !y foreign insurance

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companies, the &'/ shall accept certificates or other proofs of cover from recruitmentmanningagencies &rovided, %hat the minimum coverage under su!-paragraphs (a) to (i) are includedtherein

"/ny person having a claim upon the policy issued pursuant to su!paragraphs (a), (!), (c), (d) and(e) of this section shall present to the insurance company concerned a written notice of claim

together with pertinent supporting documents %he insurance company shall forthwith ascertain thetruth and etent of the claim and make payment within ten (7@) days from the filing of the notice ofclaim

"/ny claim arising from accidental death, natural death or disa!lement under this section shall !epaid !y the insurance company without any contest and without the necessity of providing fault ornegligence of any kind on the part of the insured migrant worker Provided,%hat the followingdocuments, duly authenticated !y the &hilippine foreign posts, shall !e sufficient evidence tosu!stantiate the claim

"(7) 3eath *ertificate - In case of natural or accidental death

"(9) &olice or /ccident ;eport - In case of accidental death and

"(8) Cedical *ertificate - In case of permanent disa!lement

"For repatriation under su!paragraph (d) hereof, a certification which states the reasons for thetermination of the migrant worker4s employment and the need for his or her repatriation shall !eissued !y the &hilippine foreign post or the &hilippine 'verseas :a!or 'ffice (&':') located in thereceiving country

"For su!sistence allowance !enefit under su!paragraph (e), the concerned la!or attach or, in hisa!sence, the em!assy or consular official shall issue a certification which states the name of thecase, the names of the parties and the nature of the cause of action of the migrant worker

"For the payment of money claims under su!paragraph (f), the following rules shall govern

"(7) /fter a decision has !ecome final and eecutor or a settlementcompromise agreementhas !een reached !etween the parties at the 5:;*, an order shall !e released mandatingthe respondent recruitmentmanning agency to pay the amount ad$udged or agreed uponwithin thirty (8@) days

"(9) %he recruitmentmanning agency shall then immediately file a notice of claim with itsinsurance provider for the amount of lia!ility insured, attaching therewith a copy of thedecision or compromise agreement

"(8) .ithin ten (7@) days from the filing of notice of claim, the insurance company shall makepayment to the recruitmentmanning agency the amount ad$udged or agreed upon, or theamount of lia!ility insured, whichever is lower /fter receiving the insurance payment, therecruitmentmanning agency shall immediately pay the migrant worker4s claim in full, takinginto account that in case the amount of insurance coverage is insufficient to satisfy theamount ad$udged or agreed upon, it is lia!le to pay the !alance thereof

"(+) In case the insurance company fails to make payment within ten (7@) days from the filingof the claim, the recruitment manning agency shall pay the amount ad$udged or agreed

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upon within the remaining days of the thirty (8@)-day period, as provided in the firstsu!paragraph hereof

"(2) If the worker4s claim was not settled within the aforesaid thirty (8@)-day period, therecruitmentmanning agency4s performance !ond or escrow deposit shall !e forthwithgarnished to satisfy the migrant worker4s claim

"(6) %he provision of compulsory worker4s insurance under this section shall not affect the$oint and solidary lia!ility of the foreign employer and the recruitmentmanning agency underSection 7@

"(>) :awyers for the insurance companies, unless the latter is impleaded, shall !e prohi!itedto appear !efore the 5:;* in money claims cases under this section

"/ny #uestion or dispute in the enforcement of any insurance policy issued under this section shall!e !rought !efore the I* for mediation or ad$udication

"In case it is shown !y su!stantial evidence !efore the &'/ that the migrant worker who was

deployed !y a licensed recruitmentmanning agency has paid for the premium or the cost of theinsurance coverage or that the said insurance coverage was used as !asis !y therecruitmentmanning agency to claim any additional fee from the migrant worker, the said licensedrecruitmentmanning agency shall lose its license and all its directors, partners, proprietors, officersand employees shall !e perpetually dis#ualified from engaging in the !usiness of recruitment ofoverseas workers Such penalty is without pre$udice to any other lia!ility which such persons mayhave incurred under eisting laws, rules or regulations

"For migrant workers recruited !y the &'/ on a government-to-government arrangement, the&'/ shall esta!lish a foreign employers guarantee fund which shall !e answera!le to the workers4monetary claims arising from !reach of contractual o!ligations For migrant workers classified asrehires, name hires or direct hires, they may opt to !e covered !y this insurance coverage !y

re#uesting their foreign employers to pay for the cost of the insurance coverage or they may pay forthe premium themselves %o protect the rights of these workers, the &'/ shall provide themade#uate legal assistance, including conciliation and mediation services, whether at home ora!road

"/t the end of every year, the 3epartment of :a!or and mployment and the I* shall $ointly make anassessment of the performance of all insurance providers, !ased upon the report of the 5:;* andthe &'/ on their respective interactions and eperiences with the insurance companies, and theyshall have the authority to !an or !lacklist such insurance companies which are known to !e evasiveor not responsive to the legitimate claims of migrant workers %he 3epartment of :a!or andmployment shall include such assessment in its year-end report to *ongress

"For purposes of this section, the 3epartment of :a!or and mployment, I*, 5:;* and the &'/,

in consultation with the recruitmentmanning agencies and legitimate non-government organizationsadvocating the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers, shall formulate the necessaryimplementing rules and regulations

"%he foregoing provisions on compulsory insurance coverage shall !e su!$ect to automatic reviewthrough the *ongressional 'versight *ommittee immediately after three (8) years from the effectivityof this /ct in order to determine its efficacy in favor of the covered overseas Filipino workers and thecompliance !y recruitmentmanning agencies and insurance companies, without pre$udice to an

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earlier review if necessary and warranted for the purpose of modifying, amending andor repealingthese su!$ect provisions

Sec 8>-1 Congressional )versight Committee.- %here is here!y created a ?oint *ongressional'versight *ommittee composed of five (2) Senators and five (2) ;epresentatives to !e appointed !ythe Senate &resident and the Speaker of the Douse of ;epresentatives, respectively %he 'versight

*ommittee shall !e co-chaired !y the chairpersons of the Senate *ommittee on :a!or andmployment and the Douse of ;epresentatives *ommittee on 'verseas .orkers /ffairs %he'versight *ommittee shall have the following duties and functions

"(a) %o set the guidelines and overall framework to monitor and ensure the properimplementation of ;epu!lic /ct 5o 8. APPROPRIATION AN5 OT1ER OURCE O! !UN5IN=. 3 T*e a+o)nt

ne$essar, to $arr, o)t t*e #roisions o% t*is A$t s*a"" -e #roided %or in t*e =enera"

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A##ro#riations A$t o% t*e ,ear %o""oing its ena$t+ent into "a and t*erea%ter.

EC. >'. MI=RANT WORGER 5A@. 3 T*e da, o% signing -, t*e President o% t*is A$t

s*a"" -e designated as t*e Migrant Workers 5a, and s*a"" *en$e%ort* -e $o++e+orated as s)$*

ann)a"",.

EC. 40. IMPLEMENTIN= RULE AN5 RE=ULATION. 3 T*e de#art+ents and

agen$ies $*arged it* $arr,ing o)t t*e #roisions o% t*is A$t s*a""/ it*in ninet, 6'07 da,s a%ter

t*e e%%e$tiit, o% t*is A$t/ %or+)"ate t*e ne$essar, r)"es and reg)"ations %or its e%%e$tie

i+#"e+entation.

EC. 4&. REPEATIN= CLAUE. 3 A"" "as/ de$rees/ e:e$)tie orders/ r)"es and

reg)"ations/ or #arts t*ereo% in$onsistent it* t*e #roisions o% t*is A$t are *ere-, re#ea"ed or

+odi%ied a$$ording",.

EC. 42. EPARABILIT@ CLAUE. 3 I%/ %or an, reason/ an, se$tion or #roision o% t*is

A$t is *e"d )n$onstit)tiona" or ina"id/ t*e ot*er se$tions or #roisions *ereo% s*a"" not -e a%%e$ted

t*ere-,.

EC. 4>. E!!ECTIDIT@ CLAUE. 3 T*is A$t s*a"" take e%%e$t a%ter %i%teen 6&(7 da,s %ro+

its #)-"i$ation in t*e O%%i$ia" =aette or in at "east to 627 nationa" nes#a#ers o% genera"

$ir$)"ation *i$*eer $o+es ear"ier.