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| Philippine passports are the property of the government, says the advisory |
A directive issued by the Department of Migrant Workers recently reiterated the government’s long-standing policy against overseas Filipino works (OFWs) being deprived of their passports.
The advisory, reposted by the Migrant Workers Office
in Hong Kong on August 14, reminded recruitment agencies, principals or foreign
employers, and any third party that they must not withhold or confiscate an OFW’s
passport “for deployment, employment, accommodation of as collateral for loans.”
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| Pindutin para sa detalye |
There are only two exceptions to this rule: (1) when
the passport is withheld for visa stamping and required documentation by embassies
or consulates; or (2) for immigration-related processing, when official procedures
mandate temporary surrender.
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| OFWs are reminded they must always be in possession of their passports |
OFWs in turn are advised to retain custody of their passports at all times, except under the situations described above. When a passport is temporarily withheld from them, the OFWs must ensure it is returned to them immediately upon completion of the transaction.
Any agency or employer found to withhold OFWs passport
as a policy or practice may be subjected to disciplinary action, including disqualification,
suspension or cancellation of accreditation, said the DMW.
The Labor advisory is pursuant to the Philippine
Passport Act of 1996, which states that the passport is “the
property of the Philippine government and should remain in the possession of
its holder at all times, including OFWs, particularly prior to departure and
during the deployment period.”
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
In Hong Kong, many OFWs use their passports as security
or collateral for loans they contract with private individuals or groups that
charge usurious rates.
Once the OFW is found to have voluntarily surrendered
her passport to a loan shark, the Consulate will issue a replacement document only
after the worker undertakes not to hock it again.
