POEA bars Pinoy caregiver recruitment to Japan

MANILA, Philippines – The government has temporarily barred the recruitment of Filipino caregivers and care assistants for employment in Japan.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) issued a memorandum circular ordering all recruitment agencies to cease deploying caregivers and care assistants to Japan because the Philippines and Japan have yet to conclude an agreement allowing the recruitment.

“The 2016 Technical Intern Training Act of Japan, which will cover the caregivers among those with eligible jobs, has not fully taken effect,” said Labor Undersecretary and acting POEA administrator Dominador Say.

According to Say, the program requires the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the justice, health, labor and foreign affairs authorities of both Japan and the Philippines to become fully operational. Although the Philippines and Japan are expected to forge the agreement within the year, negotiations have yet to be concluded.

“In the meantime all licensed and land-based recruitment agencies are directed not to undertake any recruitment for caregivers for Japan, not even for manpower pooling purposes,” he added.

Say warned that erring agencies shall be held liable for illegal recruitment. He also warned those aspiring to work overseas against unauthorized and illegal recruitment activities.

He also urged the public to report to POEA any recruitment activity of such nature undertaken by agencies or individuals, licensed or not.