MANILA — There is no direct-hire scheme for those who would want to apply as household service workers (HSWs) in Malaysia, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said Monday.
According to POEA Advisory No. 10 signed by Administrator Bernard Olalia, direct hiring of such workers is not allowed under government policy.
“The Administration strictly adheres to the policy of no direct-hire scheme for domestic works or household service workers,” said the notice signed on February 23.
But it noted that direct hiring of Filipino HSWs is allowed for employers who are “members of the diplomatic corps, international organizations and heads of states and government officials with the rank of at least deputy minister.”
The advisory was issued after the Malaysian government allowed employers to directly engage the services of domestic workers providers from the nine source countries including the Philippines.
At the same time, the POEA also directed the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia not to issue the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) to Filipinos who have exited the Philippines as tourists and now working in Malaysia.
“Instead, they will be advised to secure the said OEC as the POEA or its satellite offices once they have returned to the Philippines for a vacation,” the advisory said.
“However, said Filipino tourist who found employment in Malaysia must be registered by the POLO-Kuala Lumpur to enable them to access on-site services of the government,” it added.
POEA urged would-be OFWs who are looking for jobs in the host country to check with the agency if the employment contracts are authentic.
“Prospective applicants seeking employment in Malaysia are strongly advised to take the legal processes of having their employment contract processed by the POEA and take extra precautionary measures to establish the authenticity of employment offers by verifying the job ordered with the POEA through its website and its hotlines at 722-1144 and 722-1155. (PNA)
