KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reminded all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to secure an insurance policy before working abroad.

POEA Koronadal Regional Coordinator Axel Jay Santander told Philippine Information Agency they are already implementing DOLE Department Order No. 228, series of 2021, or the Expanded Compulsory Insurance Coverage for Rehires and Direct Hires.

The mandatory insurance coverage of OFWs shall now include rehires or ‘Balik-Manggagawa’ and direct hires.

Santander said only private insurance companies duly registered and accredited by the Insurance Commission (IC) are qualified to provide the insurance coverage.

The public, Santander advised, should look at the list released by the IC and POEA to verify if their manning agency or an insurance provider is legitimate.

“As of this time, we only have 2 IC accredited insurance providers in the region and they already established offices near the POEA Koronadal Satellite Office in Brgy. Zone III.

Santander however, clarified that based on the POEA Memorandum Circular No. 10, the insurance policy will be paid for by the agency or their employer.

“The insurance coverage for each OFW migrant worker shall be secured by the recruitment/manning agency at no cost to the OFW. The cost or expense for the insurance cover of rehires and direct hires shall be borne by their foreign employers or the workers themselves subject to a full refund upon the first day of arrival of the OFW at the worksite or country of destination,” Santander said, citing POEA M.C. 10 signed by Administrator Bernard Olalia.

POEA M.C.10 released in March 2022 also states that the insurance policy shall be effective for the duration of the migrant worker’s employment contract and assures coverage in case of death, disability, repatriation, medical emergency, and litigation.

It provides for at least US $15,000 survivor’s benefit in case of accidental death, US $10,000 survivor’s benefit in case of natural death, and US $7,500 disability benefit.

The insurance policy also covers repatriation, including transport of the worker’s personal belongings, when his/her employment is terminated by the employer without any valid cause or terminated by the employee with just cause.

In case of death, the insurance provider shall arrange and pay for the repatriation or return of the worker’s remains.

It also provides for subsistence allowance benefit of at least US $100 per month for a maximum of six months for a migrant worker who is involved in a case or litigation, and money claims arising from the employer’s liability which may be awarded or given to the worker in a judgment or settlement of his/her case in the National Labor Relations Commission.

The insurance policy also covers medical evacuation, medical repatriation, and compassionate visit by one family member of a migrant worker who is hospitalized and confined for at least seven consecutive days. (ORVR with reports from DOLE)