Pursuant to POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 5 (Series of 1998), the minimum age requirement prescribed for female household workers shall be twenty one (21) years old except in countries where the age requirement for household workers is higher and without prejudice to host countries like Hongkong, Canada, United States of America, Japan, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Sweden where the employable age of eighteen (18) years old as minimum age requirement has been allowed.

This order takes effect immediately.

Adopted: 3 Dec. 1998

(SGD.) REYNALDO A. REGALADO
Administrator

Governing Board Resolution No. 05
WHEREAS, the State affirms the fundamental equality before the law of women and men and the significant role of women in nation-building. Recognizing the contribution of overseas migrant women workers and their particular vulnerabilities, the State shall apply gender sensitive criteria in the formulation and implementation of policies and programs affecting migrant workers and the composition of bodies tasked for the welfare of migrant workers.

WHEREAS, the State recognizes that the ultimate protection to all migrant workers is the possession of skills and the deployment of overseas Filipino workers only in countries where the rights of Filipino migrant workers are protected.

WHEREAS, the Administration is committed to ensure, maximum protection of household, workers who are vulnerable to exploitation and in the pursuit of this commitment, effective regulations have to be implemented.

NOW; THEREFORE, the POEA Governing Board in a meeting duly convened, hereby resolves;

1. To allow deployment of household workers with duly approved employment contract only in countries where the rights of Filipino migrant household workers are protected.
   
   
2. The Administration recognizes any of the following as a guarantee on the part of the receiving country for the protection and rights of these overseas household workers:
   
   
   1. It has existing labor and social laws protecting the rights of migrant household workers;
      
      
   2. It is a signatory to multilateral conventions, declarations or resolutions relating the protection of migrant household workers;
      
      
   3. It has concluded a bilateral agreement or arrangement with the government protecting the rights of overseas Filipino household workers; and
      
      
   4. It is taking positive, concrete measures to protect the rights of migrant household workers;
   
   
3. To implement a minimum age of twenty one (21) years old except in countries where the age requirement for household workers is higher and without prejudice to the pre-identified countries where the legal employable age of 18 years old as minimum age requirement has been allowed.
   
   
4. To adopt pre-qualification requirements for foreign placement agencies and employers hiring household workers;
   
   
5. To continue recruitment of household workers through licensed agencies and through direct hiring and name hiring subject to the guidelines on accreditation and contracts processing to be formulated by POEA;
   
   
6. To strengthen the existing Household Workers Center in POEA that shall carry out the intents and objectives of this resolution.

Adopted: 5 Dec. 1998

(SGD.) BIENVENIDO E. LAGUESMA
Secretary of Labor and Employment
Chairman of the Board

(SGD.) REYNALDO A. REGALADO
Member

(SGD.)EZEKIELT.ALUNEN
Member

(SGD.) VICENTE F. ALDANESE
Member

(SGD.) PATRICIA A. STO. TOMAS
Member

(SGD.) ROSALSNA VILLAMOREL
GB Secretary