DOJ studying plan to limit PH health workers' migration

President Duterte is considering stopping Filipino health workers from migrating to countries with high coronavirus cases.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is studying this plan, taking into account both the right of health workers to travel and seek livelihood abroad and the need for their services in the Philippines during the pandemic.

Duterte expressed concern over the safety of these workers and criticized other countries like the US for aggressively recruiting Filipino nurses.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has already temporarily suspended the deployment of all health care workers until travel restrictions are lifted at destination countries.

Health workers with signed overseas employment contracts as of March 8 can still be deployed, but others will remain covered by the POEA’s ban.