Collection of COVID-19 insurance fee halted

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople. (INQUIRER.net file photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople has suspended the collection of a P1,700 mandatory COVID-19 insurance fee from departing land-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), except for new hires.

She said the need for the expanded compulsory insurance coverage for “rehires” and “direct hires” had ceased due to the “improving global health situation and high vaccination rates among OFWs.”

However, the exemption would not apply to newly hired land-based OFWs because this was set by the law, she added.

Despite the suspension of the fee, Ople ordered online formal consultations with stakeholders, especially OFWs, “since they were meant to be the primary beneficiaries of Department Order No. 228” issued by former Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III in October.

Bello’s order required employers or the workers themselves to pay for the insurance coverage subject to a full refund on the first day of arrival at the worksite or country of destination.

—DONA Z. PAZZIBUGAN

RELATED STORIES

OFWs to get expanded insurance coverage, DOLE assures

Dep’t of Migrant Workers chief promises to make system easier for OFWs