Pursuant to POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 5, Series of 1998, the deployment of caregivers to Israel shall be governed by the following guidelines:

SECTION 1. Definition of Caregiver

Caregiver is a contract worker who is hired to provide home support care in a private household. A live-in caregiver is required to reside in the employer's home and must only work for the employer he/she has been given permission to work for.

SECTION 2. Minimum Age Requirement

Caregivers bound for Israel shall at least be 21 years of age in consonance with MC # 20, Series of 1998.

SECTION 3. Qualification of Caregivers

a. Must have the ability to provide with minimum or least supervision home support care in a private household.

b. Must be at least a high school graduate.

c. Must have the ability to speak, read and understand English at a level sufficient to communicate effectively in an unsupervised setting.

d. Must possess the appropriate certificate of competency as caregiver issued by Technical Education & Skills Development authority (TESDA) as soon as the applicable system for determination of skills of household workers is in place.

SECTION 4. Employment Terms

The attached standard employment contract for Filipino caregivers to Israel with the following guiding minimum wage which has been revised to ensure them better protection shall be adopted:

4.a. Caregivers shall be entitled to a guaranteed monthly salary in accordance with the prevailing minimum wage law of Israel inclusive of food and accommodation.

4.b. The salary of a live-in caregiver may be deducted an amount to cover food and accommodation upon mutual agreement.

SECTION 5. Pre-Qualification of Foreign Placement Agencies/Principals Onsite

All foreign placement agencies/principals shall undergo pre-qualification by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) or the Philippine Embassy in Israel. A Pre-Qualification Certificate (PQC) shall be issued accordingly.

The following documents/requirements shall be submitted to the POLO/Philippine Embassy:

a.1. Appropriate license issued by the Israel government;

a.2. Accomplished employer's information sheet;

a.3. Special Power of Attorney and Recruitment Agreement with the Philippine Recruitment Agency;

SECTION 6. Accreditation and processing of employment contracts of Foreign Placement Agencies

a. Documentary requirements for accreditation of Foreign Placement Agencies

a.1.	Pre-qualification certificate together with the copy of the license to operate a placement agency issued by the appropriate government authority of the host country with a certified English translation,
a.2.	Authenticated and verified Special Power of Attorney and authenticated and verified Recruitment Agreement;
a.3.	Verified manpower request indicating number of caregivers and the minimum qualification requirements.

b. Documentary requirements for processing through Philippine Licensed Agencies:

b.1. Request for processing (RFP);

b.2. Individual employment contract;

b.3. Individual employer's particulars to include the complete address and telephone number,

b.4. Visa/Work permit;

b.5 Worker's Information Sheet;

b.6. Certificate of attendance to PDOS;

SECTION 7. Arrival Monitoring

The foreign placement agency shall regularly inform the POLO/Philippine Embassy/Consulate of the arrival of the household workers in Israel for effective monitoring of these workers.

SECTION 8. Post-Deployment Welfare Assistance

Philippine recruitment agencies as well as foreign placement agencies, in close coordination with POEA and the Philippine Embassy in Israel shall:

a. assist in the settlement of disputes;

b. assist in the repatriation of caregivers; and

c. report any significant incident like run-away, death, injury or illness, and detention concerning hired caregivers.

This Circular takes effect immediately.

Adopted: 10 May 1999

(SGD.) REYNALDO A. REGALADO
Administrator