Question & AnswerQ&A (LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 852)
The main policy objective is to support the development of the Filipino overseas construction industry while ensuring the protection and welfare of Filipino construction workers exported abroad.
Only Filipino construction companies are authorized to export Filipino construction workers.
The Ministry of Labor and the Overseas Construction Board are responsible for regulating the exportation of Filipino construction workers.
Construction workers may be processed for employment in overseas construction projects only if they are employed by companies registered with the Overseas Construction Board.
They may continue to export Filipino construction workers provided they register with the Overseas Construction Board within one year from the date of the Letter of Instruction.
They are required to upgrade their contracts to include additional responsibilities such as providing materials, equipment, and management within two years from the date of the Letter of Instruction.
The Board is limited to recruiting and placing Filipino construction workers only as employees of foreign governments in projects supervised and administered by those governments.
A committee composed of the Ministers of Labor, Foreign Affairs, Tourism, Finance, and the Officer-in-Charge of the Travel Processing Center is to establish measures to inhibit such abuses.
The Ministry of Labor shall develop the exportation of Filipino workers in corporate groups rather than as individuals in industries like mining, hotel administration, and ports/stevedoring operations.
While the Letter does not explicitly state penalties, companies that fail to register within one year will presumably lose the privilege to export Filipino construction workers legally.