Total Deployment Ban
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), upon the advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs has ordered a total ban in the deployment of ALL workers to Iraq, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Lebanon. The DOLE also directed the POEA to take active measures, criminal and administrative, against recruitment agencies violating the ban. 

No placement fee for Canada-bound OFWs
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) warns recruitment agencies against charging or collecting any recruitment and placement fee from workers to be deployed to Canada and countries, which have laws that prohibit the same.

The POEA Governing Board No. 4, Series of 2001 and the 2002 POEA Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Land-based Overseas Workers prohibit a land-base agency from collecting any placement fee from workers who will be deployed in any country where the prevailing system, either by law, policy or practice does not allow said collection because the employer shall pay the cost of placement and recruitment services.

The prohibition is specifically applicable to agencies that are deploying workers to the Canada provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.

Nurses for NZ: Beware of  Excessive Fees

The DoLE issued an advisory about the exorbitant fees required by agencies or individuals offering an employment for as nurse. The government agency  has received reports that nurses who have job offer in New Zealand were required to pay between P500,000 and P700,000 in exchange of their employment in the country.

The secretary of DoLE urged applicants to report these individuals or agencies asking for excessive fees in exchange of their deployment to the POEA so they can file appropriate charges.