[ POEA GOVERNING BOARD RESOLUTION NO. 17, S. 2014, July 22, 2014 ]

ALLOWING THE PROCESSING AND DEPLOYMENT OF SELECTED CATEGORIES OF RETURNING WORKERS FOR LIBYA



Adopted: 22 July 2014
Date Filed: 23 July 2014

WHEREAS, on 11 June 2014, the DFA through the Secretary of Foreign Affairs (DFA) recommended that certain skill categories of returning OFWs be exempted from POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 08, Series of 2014 on the total deployment ban to Libya under security Alert Level 3, and be allowed to return provided that their employers will issue a letter guaranteeing their safety, security and repatriation in case the situation worsens and there is imminent danger to their lives and well-being;

WHEREAS, on 13 June 2014, POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 09, Series of 2014 was issued to allow the processing and deployment of certain skill categories of returning workers to Libya;

WHEREAS, on 18 July 2014, the DFA further raised the security Alert Level in Libya to Alert Level 4 (Mandatory Repatriation) due to continued deterioration of the peace and order situation in that country;

WHEREAS, under Alert Level 4, a total ban on the processing and deployment of all workers is imposed and that the DOLE Quick Response Team is directed to closely coordinate with the DFA on the immediate and safe repatriation of OFWs in Libya;

WHEREAS, under the same DFA Advisory only the following categories are exempted from the travel ban to Libya: (1) OFWs working offshore in oil rig platforms, provided they will not pass through mainland Libya nor spend their vacation there; and (2) Filipinos who are married to Libyans. Those working for United Nations and other international organizations will be exempt only if the agencies or organizations they work for still maintain a presence in Libya, noting that the United Nations has already relocated all its personnel in Libya to Tunisia;

WHEREAS, there is a need to establish procedures/safeguards for workers mentioned under Category (1) in the preceding paragraph;

NOW, WHEREFORE, the POEA Governing Board, in a meeting duly convened, RESOLVES AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, to allow the processing and deployment of the following categories of returning workers:

(1) Those working offshore in oil rig platforms, provided they will not pass through mainland Libya nor spend their vacation there;

(2) Filipinos who are married to Libyan nationals; and

(3) Those working for international organizations, only if such agencies or organizations still maintain a presence in Libya.

To ensure the safety and well-being of OFWs identified in Category (1), the following documents will be required for the processing of their Overseas Employment Certificates:

  1. POLO-verified employer contingency plan for the evacuation and repatriation of the workers; and
  2. POLO-verified employer undertaking guaranteeing the safety of the workers during their stay in Libya, and readiness for their immediate repatriation as may be warranted. The undertaking shall clearly state the exact location of the work site of the workers.

For immediate compliance.

Done in the City of Manila, Philippines, this 22nd day of July 2014.

(SGD) ROSALINDA DIMAPILIS-BALDOZ
Secretary of Labor and Employment and
Chairperson of the POEA Governing Board
 
(SGD) HANS LEO J. CACDAC
POEA Administrator
Vice-Chair of the Governing Board
   
(SGD) ESTRELITA S. HIZON
Member
(SGD) ALEXANDER E. ASUNCION
Member
   
(SGD) FELIX M. OCA
Member
(SGD) MILAGROS ISABEL A. CRISTOBAL
Member