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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The gravity of the global financial crisis could adversely affect the 
Philippine economy, particularly its ability to sustain job generation, both locally 
and overseas. 
It can be acknowledged that a drawn-out global recession could result in 
unforeseen responses by OFW-receiving countries and their foreign employers, 
such as the inability to adjust their acceptance of OFWs that could cause their 
possible repatriation due to employment termination or decrease in salary and 
other employment benefits. 
Millions of Filipino families dependent on the OFWs' remittances could 
face a socio-economic catastrophe that would in turn direly affect the country. 
Our concern for the overseas employment sector should be foremost as 
we share a social responsibility of ensuring that the country's economic stability 
in this time of a crisis and strengthening the ability of our OFWs to cope with the 
effects of such a crisis. 
Henceforth, in times of uncertainties such as what we are facing in the 
overseas employment market, the best strategic approach is to increase and 
strengthen OFW protection. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator W a r  
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE A MANDATORY EMPLOYERS' INSURANCE FOR ALL 
LEGALLY EMPLOYED OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS, PROVIDING 
MECHANISMS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This act shall be known as "The Mandatory 
Employers' Insurance for Overseas Filipino Workers Act of 2008" 
SECTION 2. Declaration of policies. - it is declared as the policy of the 
State to protect the families of OFWs by giving them mandatory coverage for all 
their repatriation and other concerns and claims resulting directly from ernployer- 
employee relationships, or by virtue of any law or contract involving OFWs. 
SECTION 3. Mandatory insurance coverage. - An insurance coverage 
shall be provided for Overseas Filipino Workers at the time of their assumption of 
their duties, which shall cover all necessary incidents of their employment and 
their repatriation therein. Provided, that the insurance coverage shall be provided 
at no expense to the Overseas Filipino Worker as such, or the national 
government but shall be provided at the expense of the foreign employer. 
Provided, further, that within six (6) months after the effectivity of this act, the 
Labor Attache or employeeslofficials in diplomaticlconsular posts, shall make the 
necessary representations with various or equivalent offices in other countries. 
Provided, further, that the POEA shall consult with stakeholders in the 
recruitment industry and labor groups for the purpose of issuing an effective and 
feasible rules and regulations that will implement the provisions of this Act. 
. .  
SECTION 4. Employers covered. - The employers covered by this Act 
shall include all employers who have contracted Filipinos for overseas 
employment. 
SECTION 5. Employees covered. - The employees covered by this Act 
SECTION 6. Benefits allowed. - The benefits to be extended to OFWs by 
shall include all Filipino employees who have been contracted for work abroad. 
virtue of this Act shall include, but not be limited to the following: 
1) Death; 
2) Personal Accident; 
3) Repatriation; 


4) Unjust termination; 
5) Just termination that is not the fault of the employee: 
6) Others 
Provided, that the insurance coverage shall be over and above existing OFW 
welfare and protection measures, public or private, such as the OWWA 
membership insurance program and the escrow deposit that OESPs are required 
to have. 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, decrees, rules and 
regulations, and other parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,