Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are not required to wear full personal protective equipment (PPEs) during departure abroad, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) clarified in an advisory.
Under Advisory no. 62 released to the public on Saturday, POEA said that it has not “issued nor implemented rules and guidelines mandating the use of PPEs“ by OFWs in Philippine airports or in countries of destination.
“With the easing of regulations on both domestic and international travel, and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF)’s promulgation of policies for the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions, such as the voluntary wearing of face masks outdoors and the downgrading of most areas to the lowest alert levels, the POEA reiterates that requirements on the deployment and travel of OFWs must also be relaxed,“ the advisory reads.
The advisory no. 62 was issued following directives from Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople who agreed with Senator Pia Cayetano that requiring PPEs is outdated.
"I agree with the sentiments of Senator Pia Cayetano and other legislators that the PPE requirement for departing OFWs is outdated, misguided, and oppressive. I regret not having issued this order much earlier to spare our OFWs the discomfort of going to the airport in full PPE attire," Ople said in a statement posted on DMW's Facebook page.
Cayetano raised the issue during the Senate plenary session last Wednesday, saying that she felt bad for OFWs waiting in the airport terminals wearing full PPEs because it was not comfortable to wear.
"The DMW firmly believes that having vaccines plus booster shots and wearing face masks provide sufficient protection to our overseas workers. Until otherwise recommended by our health officials, the POEA advisory against the mandatory wearing of PPEs for our OFWs by their respective recruitment and manning agencies shall remain in force," Ople said.
