Legal Basis and Applicability
It is issued pursuant to Rule I, Part VIII of the 2002 POEA Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Land-based Workers. It applies specifically to those recruitment agencies licensed by the POEA that deploy household service workers abroad.
Requirements Imposed on Recruitment Agencies
- Must create and maintain a dedicated Facebook account specifically for communication with deployed HSWs.
- The Facebook account serves multiple purposes including acting as a communication platform, preventing disputes, endorsing complaints, and submitting reports to the POEA.
- The Facebook account is required for the processing of household service workers at the POEA Land-based Center.
- Agencies are required to share access or information of this Facebook account with both the deployed HSWs and the POEA Administration.
Monitoring and Enforcement
- The Employment Services and Regulation Division (ESRD) of the POEA is tasked with monitoring the compliance of recruitment agencies in maintaining and using the Facebook account as required.
Effectivity and Compliance
- The circular took effect fifteen (15) days after its publication.
- Strict compliance by all licensed recruitment and placement agencies is mandated.
Important Legal Concepts
- The circular reinforces the safeguarding of overseas Filipino workers’ welfare through technology-enabled communication.
- It imposes a novel, technology-based reporting and communication obligation on recruitment agencies to enhance transparency and assistance to deployed workers.
- Facilitates easier submission and endorsement of complaints and immediate communication to address concerns of household service workers abroad.