Domestic worker recruiters need Facebook account – POEA

MANILA, Philippines – “Friend us.” To better watch out for domestic workers abroad, the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) is requiring recruiters to have a Facebook page. The memorandum issued on February 24 officially takes effect on March 13.

The memorandum issued by POEA says that recruiters are required to have the accounts for the following purposes: 

1. Communication platform for deployed HSWs
2. Dispute prevention 
3. Endorsement of complaints
4. Submission of reports to POEA 

POEA chief Hans Leo Cacdac clarified on his Facebook page that only recruiters are required to submit their Facebook pages to POEA and not domestic helpers. (READ: Iglesia ni Cristo and POEA partner vs illegal recruitment) 

Cacdac said the policy is aligned with the mandate of Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz to make sure licensed recruitment agencies are held responsible for their deployed workers, and their interests are “amply protected, and that their well-being and welfare are promoted pursuant to the POEA rules and regulations.” – Rappler.com