The mandatory insurance coverage for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) has been temporarily suspended by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
Many OFWs have already expressed their disagreement with the expanded insurance since the majority of them, at least those who work in the UAE, as the government mandate employers to provide their workers with health insurance.
In March, POEA issued a Memorandum Circular which stated the implementation of the expanded compulsory insurance coverage for rehires and direct hires.
The agency said that the temporary suspension was due to the improving state of global health as well as the high vaccine rollout and opening borders.
“The implementation of the expanded compulsory insurance coverage shall be temporarily suspended pending the consultations and dialogue among the recruitment industry stakeholders, and submission of an offer from the insurance providers, for the improved package of services beneficial to the needs of OFWs,” it said in a statement.
