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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
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, ., 
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. .-!, 
*‘.,, .:- 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
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SENATE 
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S.B. No. 
Submitted jointly by the Committees on Labor, Employment and Human 
Resources Development and Foreign Relations 
“AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE REGUIATORY FUNCTIONS OF THE PHILIPPINE 
OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT ADMINISTRATION (POEA), FURTHER 
IMPROVING THE HIGHER STANDARD OF PROTECTION AND 
PROMOTION OF THE WELFARE OF MIGRANT WORKERS, THEIR 
FAMILIES AND OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS IN DISTRESS, 
AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8042, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE “MIGRANT WORKERS AND OVERSEAS FILIPINOS ACT 
OF 1995” 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 23, paragraph (b.1) of Republic Act No. 8042, 
otherwise known as the “Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 
1995” is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“(b. 1) Philippine Overseas Employment Administration - Subject to 
THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT [Deregulation and Phase-out as provided 
under Sections 29 and 30, herein], the Administration shall CONTINUE TO 
EXERCISE ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS AS FOLLOWS: 
1. regulate private sector participation in the recruitment and overseas 
placement of workers by setting up a licensing and registration system; [It 
shall also] 
2. formulate and implement, in coordination with appropriate entities 
concerned, when necessary, a system for promoting and monitoring the 
overseas employment of Filipino workers taking into consideration their 
welfare and the domestic [manpower] EMPLOYMENT requirements; 
3. 
PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF MLIPINO WORKERS FOR 
OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT TO FAIR AND EQUITABLE RECRUITMENT 
AND EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES AND ENSURE THEIR WELFARE; 
4. 
EXERCISE ORIGINAL AND EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION TO 
HEAR AND DECIDE: 
1) 
ALL PRE-EMPLOYMENT CASES WHICH ARE 
ADMINISTRATIVE IN CHARACTER INVOLVING OR 
ARISING OUT OF VIOLATION OF RECRUITMENT 
LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS (INCLUDING 
MONEY 
CLAIMS 
ARISING 
THEREFROM) 
OR 


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VIOLKTION OF CONDITIONS FOR ISSUANCES OF 
LICENSE OR AUTHORITY TO RECRUIT WORKERS; 
AND 
2) DISCIPLINARY CASES INVOLVING EMPLOYERS 
FOREIGN 
PRINCIPALSl 
BROKERS 
OR 
RECRUITMENT 
AGENCIES 
ARISING 
OUT 
OF 
VIOLATION 
OF RULES 
AND 
REGULATIONS 
GOVERNING OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT. 
5. 
SECURE THE 
BEST 
TERMS AND 
CONDITIONS OF 
EMPLOYMENT OF FILIPINO WORKERS IN COMPLIANCE WITH 
HUMAN AND LABOR RIGHTS; 
6. PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE WELL-BEING OF FILIPINO 
WORKERS OVERSEAS; 
2. 
INFORM WORKERS NOT ONLY OF THEIR RIGHTS AS 
WORKERS BUT ALSO THEIR RIGHTS AS HUMAN BEINGS, SHOW THE 
WORKERS HOW TO ASSERT THEIR RIGHTS AND PROVIDE THE 
AVAILABLE REDRESS MECHANISM IN VIOLATION OF THEIR RIGHTS. 
SEC. 2. Section 29 of the same law is hereby repealed. 
“[SECTION 29. Comprehensive Deregulation Plan on Recruitment 
Activities. - Pursuant to a progressive policy of deregulation whereby the 
migration of workers becomes strictly a matter between the worker and his 
foreign employer, the DOLE, within one (1) year from the effectivity of this 
Act, is hereby mandated to formulate a five-year comprehensive deregulation 
plan on recruitment activities taking into account labor market trends, 
economic conditions of the country and emerging circumstances which may 
affect the welfare of migrant workers.]” 
SEC. 3. Section 30 of the same law is also hereby repealed. 
[SECTION 30. Gradual Phase-out of Regulatory Functions. - Within a 
period of five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act, the DOLE shall phase- 
out the regulatory functions of the POEA pursuant to the objectives of 
deregulation.]” 
SEC. 4. All laws, orders, issuances, rules or regulations or part thereof 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or 
modified accordingly. 
SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation, 
whichever comes earlier. 
Approved.