POEA bans newly-hired OFWs to Thailand

Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA)

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Governing Board yesterday declared a suspension on the processing and deployment of newly-hired OFWs bound for Thailand after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) raised Crisis Alert Level 2 (Restriction Phase) for the Kingdom, in view of the declaration by Thailand’s army of Martial Law due to the escalating civil and political unrest and insecurity in the country.

Under POEA Governing Board Resolution (GBR) No. 06, Series of 2014 issued 21 May 2014 and signed by Acting Secretary of Labor and Employment and Acting Chairperson of the POEA Governing Board Rebecca C. Chato; POEA Administrator and Vice-Chair of the Governing Board Hans Leo J. Cacdac; and POEA Governing Board Members Felix M. Oca, Estrelita S. Hizon, Alexander E. Asuncion, and Milagros Isabel A. Cristobal, Crisis Alert Level 2 only allows the processing and deployment of returning OFWs with existing employment contracts.

Early this year, the POEA issued the same ban on Thailand and lifted it two months after the DFA lowered the crisis alert level from 2 (Restriction Phase) to 1 (Precautionary Phase).

Under the DFA’s alert level system, Crisis Alert Level 2 requires Filipino nationals staying in Thailand to restrict non-essential movements, avoid public places, and prepare for evacuation, if necessary

Press release courtesy of the Department of Labor and Employment, 23 May 2014.