House OKs bill seeking to redefine illegal recruitment committed by a syndicate

MANILA — The House of Representatives approved on Tuesday a measure seeking to redefine the crime of illegal recruitment committed by a syndicate.

Voting 247-0-0, the lower chamber approved on third and final reading House Bill 9805, which reduces the number of perpetrators to at least two from the current at least three, if the illegal recruitment is committed by non-licensees or non-holders of authority.

Under the bill, illegal recruitment, when committed by a syndicate or in large scale “shall be considered an offense involving economic sabotage”.

Another measure for the protection of Filipinos working overseas, which the House approved on third and final reading is House Bill 9462, with 245 affirmative votes. No House member voted against the bill or abstained.

The proposed measure expands the use of the Legal Assistance Fund and the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund.

Under the bill, the legal assistance fund may also cover the filing of labor complaints against erring employers and criminal actions against other offending persons in the receiving countries. It provides for the said funds to be available to overseas Filipinos from the time of their investigation, detention, arrest or indictment, up to the trial proper and appeal.

The measure provides that the rules on the utilization of the legal assistance funds apply similarly to the AKSYON Fund by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for cases requiring legal assistance. In countries and territories where there are no Migrant Workers Offices yet, the bill states that the DFA shall extend legal and other forms of assistance to OFWs located in said areas.

The House also approved on third and final reading House Bill 9806, providing a free financial education to overseas Filipino workers and their families, with 250 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstentions.

The bill requires all OFWs to undergo mandatory and continuously updated financial education seminars, which shall become an integral part of departing OFW’s Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar.

Post-Arrival Training Seminars on financial education or literacy are likewise mandated for OFWs to undertake within a reasonable time upon their arrival in their respective countries of destination on their first employment contract, or those who transfer from one place of work to another without stopping by the Philippines.

Voting 252-0-0, the House approved on final reading House Bill 11562, strengthening the Philippine Coast Guard by introducing policy and organizational reforms.

The lower chamber, meantime, approved on second reading House Bill 11563, establishing a performance measurement system to promote meritocracy in local government.