MANILA, Philippines – No recruitment agency will be exempted from the mandatory insurance provision of the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act or Republic Act 10022, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said Friday. POEA chief Jennifer Manalili said in a statement posted in its website that starting last Monday, recruitment agencies were required to provide its workers an insurance coverage from accredited insurance providers.
“With the law already in effect, the POEA is under obligation to implement the provision on insurance coverage foe agency-hired Filipino workers leaving the country for the first time under new contracts,” Manalili said.
POEA issued the statement after recruitment agencies from Hong Kong had earlier announced it has stopped hiring Filipino household helpers with the implementation of the R.A. 10022 because of the additional cost from the mandatory insurance coverage.
Under R.A. 10022, the recruitment agencies are required to provide insurance coverage for accidental death worth $15,000, natural death ($10,000), and permanent total disablement ($7,500).
They are also obligated to shoulder their employee’s repatriation cost, subsistence allowance benefit, compassionate visit, medical evacuation, and medical repatriation.
Among the insurance companies that were accredited by the Insurance Commission (IC) for the implementation of R.A. 10022 are Paramount Life and General Insurance Corporation, Philippine Charter Insurance Corporation for accidental insurance, and the United Coconut Planter’s Assurance Corporation for life insurance.
Samuel Medenilla, Manila Bulletin
