Question & AnswerQ&A (POEA ADVISORY NO. 07, S. 2005)
POEA Advisory No. 07, Series of 2005, provides updated information on restricted labor markets or countries where deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) is prohibited either totally or for specific skill categories due to security issues, restrictive immigration policies, or poor economic and working conditions.
The countries in Asia listed under restricted labor markets due to unstable peace and order situations are Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and select areas of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
The grounds for restricting deployment of OFWs include unstable peace and order situations, restrictive immigration and labor policies of the host country, and unfavorable economic situations and working conditions.
Yes, deployment of workers to countries classified under unstable peace and order or restrictive immigration policies is allowed under exceptional circumstances, provided there is clearance from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
No, the Philippine government prohibits the employment of domestic helpers to Palau as stated in the advisory.
Certain European countries such as Belgium, Luxembourg, Hungary, Poland, and Turkey have restrictive labor policies. For example, Turkey allows selective hiring of certain categories of foreign workers including household workers. Additionally, deployment of au pairs to all European countries is banned pending the result of a fact-finding study by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The moratorium in CNMI is due to restrictive immigration and labor policies of the host country which limits or stops new hiring of guest workers.
Direct employment offers to West African countries such as Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea should not be entertained due to contract related problems.
Only Filipino domestic helpers with employment contracts authenticated by the Philippine Embassy in Lebanon and approved by the POEA are allowed to deploy to Syria.
The advisory was signed and adopted by Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, who was the Administrator of the POEA at that time.