Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no.? 12 4

Introduced by HON. ROGELIO D. PACQUIAO

Explanatory Note

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas reports that more than 10 million Filipinos work or
reside abroad. The data represents those who decided to work in a foreign land to ean more money
in order to provide for a better future for their families. Consequently, it accounts for the segment of
the population considered to be the “anchor of the Philippine economy,” as these migrant workers
send about 20 million US dollars in remittances every year.

Our migrant workers deserve nothing but the most comprehensive programs and policies that
can protect their rights and welfare. The government's work, however, does not stop in merely
crafting and implementing laws for the migrant workers’ advantage. It must also ensure that such
laws are functional and accessible to them.

This bill seeks to mandate the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to
publish, disseminate, and update a handbook on the rights and responsibilities of migrant workers.
The Handbook aims to provide them with pertinent information which can help them address their
problems and concerns. It also seeks to serve as their reference when they need to assert their rights
as overseas employees.

Approval of this bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

7124

HOUSE BILL

Introduced by HON. ROGELIO D. PACQUIAO:

AN ACT MANDATING THE PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT
ADMINISTRATION (POEA) TO PUBLISH, DISSEMINATE, AND UPDATE A
HANDBOOK ON THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF MIGRANT
WORKERS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8042,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “MIGRANT WORKERS AND OVERSEAS
FILIPINO ACT OF 1995,” AS AMENDED

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “Handbook for OF Ws Act of 2018".

SECTION 2. Creating a Handbook for Overseas Filipino Workers. The handbook for
overseas Filipino workers, referred to in this Act as the “Handbook”, shall be created and issued to

every migrant worker. It shall serve as a ready reference for migrant workers when they need to assert
their rights and responsibilities. It shall also deal with key issues that they need to know in order to
maintain decent employment conditions overseas.

The contents of the Handbook shall be written in English, Filipino, and another two major
languages in the Philippines.

SECTION 3. Objectives of the Handbook. The objectives of creating a Handbook are as
follows:

a. To empower every overseas Filipino worker (OFW) by making them fully aware


of their rights and responsibilities;
b. To complement pre-employment briefings and seminars administered by
concemed agencies for migrant workers;

c. To provide a comprehensive information on the labor and living conditions in the
country of their destination; and

d. To make the workers well aware of the benefits and drawbacks of working
overseas.

SECTION 4. Amendment. Subparagraph (b.1) of paragraph (b) of Section 23 of Republic Act
No, 8042, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 23. ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. - The following government agencies shall

perform the following to promote the welfare and protect the rights of migrant workers and, as far as,
applicable, all overseas Filipinos:

(a) Department of Foreign Affairs. - xx

(b) Department of Labor and Employment - The Department of Labor and Employment
shall see to it that labor and social welfare laws in the foreign countries are fairly applied to migrant
workers and whenever applicable, to other overseas Filipinos including the grant of legal assistance
and the referral to proper medical centers or hospitals;

(b.1) Philippine Overseas Employment Administration - The Administration shall
regulate private sector participation in the recruitment and overseas placement of workers by setting
up a licensing and registration system. xxx

In addition to its powers and functions, the Administration shall inform migrant
workers not only of their rights as workers but also of their rights as human beings, instruct and guide
the workers how to assert their rights and provide the available mechanism to redress violation of
their rights. THE ADMINISTRATION IS HEREBY MANDATED TO PUBLISH,
DISSEMINATE AND UPDATE PERIODICALLY A HANDBOOK ON THE RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF MIGRANT WORKERS AS PROVIDED BY PHILIPPINE LAWS
AND THE EXISTING LABOR AND SOCIAL LAWS OF THE RECEIVING COUNTRY
THAT WILL PROTECT AND GUARANTEE THE RIGHTS OF MIGRANT WORKERS.
THE HANDBOOK SHALL BE WRITTEN IN ENGLISH, FILIPINO, AND ANOTHER TWO
MAJOR LANGUAGES IN THE PHILIPPINES, USING SIMPLE WORDS WHICH CAN BE
EASILY UNDERSTOOD.

It shall also be responsible for the implementation, in partnership with other law
enforcement agencies, of an intensified program against illegal recruitment activities. For this
purpose, the POEA shall provide comprehensive Pre-Employment Orientation Seminars (PEOS) that
will discuss topics such as prevention of illegal recruitment, [and] gender-sensitivity, AND THE


CONTENT OF THE HANDBOOK ON THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF
MIGRANT WORKERS. xxx"

SECTION 5. Implementing Agencies. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration
(POEA), in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), is mandated to implement this Act.

SECTION 6. Appropriations. The amount necessary for the continuous publication,
distribution and update of the Handbook shall be taken from the appropriations of the POEA.
Thereafter, the amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be provided for the
General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts
thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions herein are not affected by such declaration and shall continue
to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,