Republic of the Philippines

EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND
50 Hobson Street, Thorndon, Wellington, New Zealand 6011

Advisory No 20-03-1 on Entitlement, DOLE Financial Assistance, Workers and Obligations of Labour Hire Company

/ advisory, overseas labor office


TO ALL CONCERNED FILIPINO WORKERS

PLEASE BE ADVISED OF THE FOLLOWING:

  1. Entitlement Under the Employers Wage Subsidy Program Adopted by the NZ Government. For Filipino workers who are in New Zealand, you are advised to approach and ask your employer and find out if your company has applied for coverage under the Program. Alternatively, should you have further questions which you think remain insufficiently addressed, you may visit the link below.

https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/documents/eligibility/emergencies/covid-19/wage-subsidy-and-leave-payment-employer-support-factsheet.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2GFRsUk0yJkY4PZ_uLSJGwtFMMGZqSKSn6igU-262m1IdgRpGPj2C4dKg

  1. USD 200 DOLE Financial Assistance. Pursuant to the pronouncement of Labour and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III to extend a one-time USD 200 (P10,000) cash assistance to OFWs impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the DOLE has yet to issue the implementing guidelines to effect said financial aid. You are therefore requested to await further announcement through a subsequent advisory to be issued on the matter.

  2. Workers currently in the Philippines, and those in Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, and French Polynesia. You are advised to a) review your employment contract carefully and take note of the terms and conditions on contract termination and the rights and obligations of the parties, b) read and find out about your visa conditions, c) contact your employers and ask/discuss with them what their plans are about your employment in New Zealand and the Pacific Island countries should the situation return to normal within foreseeable future.

  3. Obligation of Labour Hire Company (Foreign Placement Agency) and Philippine Recruitment Agency (PRA). For currently stranded, "Laid-off" and "terminated" workers, please be advised that you may invoke your right under the Service and Recruitment Agreement, which includes a Contingency Plan, that these agencies signed with your actual employer in New Zealand. Under the Joint and Solidary liability (JSL) clause of the agreement, these agencies are severally obligated, under pain of cancelation or revocation of their POEA accreditation, to extend any and all kinds of assistance to their recruited/hired workers who become distressed while in New Zealand, until the worker is safely repatriated to the Philippines. However, since labour-hire companies are beyond POEA's jurisdiction, the JSL could be invoked against the PRA to compel them to act on your case and extend appropriate assistance to you, through your authorized representatives in the Philippines.

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