Rappler
‘Forced servitude’? PH prevents health workers from leaving
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has temporarily suspended the deployment of health care workers abroad as the country grapples to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
This ban, in effect until the national state of emergency and COVID-19-related travel restrictions are lifted at destination countries, covers professions including medical doctors, nurses, microbiologists, pharmacists, and technicians.
The suspension also extends to negotiations for government-to-government deployment of healthcare workers.
The POEA stated the deployment ban aims to prioritize human resource allocation within the country's healthcare system.
The resolution emphasized the paramount national interest in preparing health personnel to replace, substitute, or reinforce those currently working on the local frontlines.
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See how different news organizations are covering this story. Below are the original articles from various Philippine news sources that contributed to this summary.
Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. vowed to fight the temporary ban on deploying Filipino health workers abroad, calling it an "abomination" and a violation of the Constitution.
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The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) will recommend lifting the temporary deployment ban on Filipino health workers with existing overseas contracts as of March 8, allowing them to return to their jobs abroad.
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Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos stated that healthcare workers with existing contracts should be allowed to deploy abroad, viewing them as the Philippines' contribution to global care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Senator Joel Villanueva lauded the executive department's reconsideration of its earlier move to prohibit healthcare workers from leaving the country.
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President Duterte expressed hope that Filipino health workers would not all leave the country for jobs abroad amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, acknowledging their desire for better compensation while highlighting the Philippines' critical need for medical personnel.
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