Inclusion of Cambodia in ‘41 list’ opposed

MANILA, Philippines—Filipinos working in Cambodia have expressed concern over the country’s inclusion in the list of 41 countries cited by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration as unsuitable to host Filipino workers, according to the Philippine embassy in Phnom Penh.

“There was a concern among Filipinos based in Cambodia when they were informed of this development and when POEA declined to process the OEC (overseas employment certificate) applications of Filipinos going to Cambodia,” the embassy posted in its Facebook page.

But the embassy clarified that as of Thursday afternoon, it was informed that the implementation of the POEA resolution has been suspended pending further consultations with government agencies and stakeholders.

Earlier this week, the POEA listed 41 countries as being non-compliant with the requirements set in Republic Act No. 10022, the Amended Overseas Workers Migrants Act. The law says that countries hosting overseas Filipino workers must have adequate laws to protect migrant workers.

Republic Act 10022 is intended to ensure that Filipinos are not being sent overseas to work under dangerous, high-risk, inhumane or difficult conditions.

In compliance with the said Republic Act, the POEA Governing Board issued Resolution No. 07, series of 2011, dated Oct. 28,  2011, that includes Cambodia in a list of countries where deployment of OFWs would not be allowed.

The embassy stressed that in the course of consultations held by the DFA before the resolution was passed by the POEA Governing Board, it strongly objected to the inclusion of Cambodia in “negative” list despite the fact that conditions in Cambodia do not completely satisfy the criteria set forth in RA 10022.

“The Embassy continues to object to the inclusion of Cambodia in said list,” it added.

Apart from Cambodia, East Timor is the other country in Southeast Asia included in the list which has close ties with the Philippines. The Philippines sent peacekeepers to East Timor and Cambodia years ago as the two countries transitioned to democracy.