POEA to propose increase in healthcare worker deployment quota

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) will recommend an increase in the annual deployment quota for healthcare workers (HCWs).

POEA Administrator Bernard P. Olalia stated that the agency will meet with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to propose the increase, as urged by medical groups.

Olalia clarified that the Philippines has not yet filled its 6,500 ceiling for HCW deployments this year, but more countries are now seeking Filipino HCWs.

The deployment cap was initially imposed to ensure sufficient HCWs during the pandemic.

The United Kingdom has been exempted from this deployment cap.

Prior to the pandemic, the annual deployment of HCWs ranged from 12,000 to 15,000.

As of Wednesday, 48 caregivers were sent to Israel out of 377 OFWs whose deployment was delayed due to the pandemic.