Passengers of domestic flights coming from Manila will no longer line up to pay for the terminal fee in the airport since it will be included in the airfare beginning August 1, 2012.

According to a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, this arrangement is official now that the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the airline companies have signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on the fee integration.

This will make traveling more convenient for majority of domestic passengers. Meanwhile, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and other passengers who are entitled to exemptions–including athletes, senior citizens and babies under 2 years old–can claim a refund from designated claim booths.

The airlines who signed the MOA include Air Philippines; Cebu Air, Inc; Philippine Airlines (PAL); Seair Inc; Sky Pasada; and Zest Air.

For more information, see Philippine Daily Inquirer It’s official: Plane tickets will include terminal fees.

The Ateneo de Manila College Glee Club (ACGC) won first place in the 58th Cork International Choral Festival in Ireland on May 5, according to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) news.

ACGC, which consists of 39 members and is conducted by Professor Maria Lourdes Venida-Hermo, did the Philippines proud by taking home the prestigious Fleischmann International Trophy. In addition, the group was also awarded the Heinrich Schütz Perpetual Trophy Special Award and PEACE Trophy.

The competition drew the top adult choirs from Europe and other parts of the world including Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Slovenia, Singapore, England and Wales.

Four days after their victory, the Filipino choir group also performed at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin for an audience that included the Filipino community, the Diplomatic Corps in Ireland and members of Irish Parliament.

Remittances from overseas Filipinos coursed through banks grew in March 2012 by 5% compared to the amount in March 2011, reaching a total of US$1.7 billion.

According to a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) press release, the continued increase in remittance flows in March brought the first quarter level to $4.8 billion, higher by 5.4% than the $4.6 billion realized in January-March 2011.

Remittances from land-based ($3.7 billion) and sea-based ($1.1 billion) workers during the quarter registered increases of 2.7% and 15.3%, respectively.

To date, the significant portion of remittances continue to come from the United States (US), Canada, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Japan, the United Kingdom (UK), Singapore, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Germany, Italy and Hong Kong.

The flow of remittances continues to remain strong thanks to the sustained demand for Filipino manpower in various foreign labor markets. Latest preliminary data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) showed that 68,711 job orders for service, production, professional, technical and related workers were processed for the period January 2-April 30, 2012. These were in response to the manpower requirements in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore.

Increased inflows of remittances were made possible by the continued expansion of banks’ presence across the globe. Recently, two local banks have forged tie-ups with a local courier and a money remittance company to serve more overseas Filipinos and beneficiaries worldwide.

Image from Microsoft Office website.

A team of students from the University of the Philippines (UP) won the grand prize in the second edition of the Indra Future Minds Competition in Madrid, Spain last April 26, defeating 10 other teams in the finals.

As winners, Erwin Soleta, Maria Katrina Volante and Benedict Ivan Andrade will have the chance to work for Indra when they graduate. The company is a leading technology provider in Spain and one of the leading multinational firms in Europe and Latin America, according to a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) press release.

The event “aims to find solutions to the challenges faced by the business sector.” To win the top prize, the UP team competed against the groups from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Peru and the host country, Spain. The Filipinos went on to successfully resolve “the final Smart Cities case which is based on an actual Indra project for the City Government of Barcelona.”

Photo from DFA website features UP students Erwin Soleta, Maria Katrina Volante and Benedict Ivan Andrade.

POEA News Release
May 14, 2012

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is putting the pressure on erring recruitment agencies as it closed last Friday two recruitment agencies that continued to engage in the recruitment and placement of workers overseas even after their respective licenses were revoked for malpractices.

Vice-President Jejomar Binay, as head of the Presidential Task Force on Anti-Illegal Recruitment (PTFAIR), joined POEA Administrator Hans Leo J Cacdac and his team that closed the offices of Northwest Placement Inc and Reajent Manpower Services Inc.

“This enforcement effort of the POEA and the Office of the Vice-President (OVP) underscores the importance of punishing recruitment violators and upholding the rule of law. And we will not rest,” Cacdac said.

POEA issued the closure order against Northwest Placement Inc in Manila when it discovered that the agency still recruits housekeepers for the United States (US) even after its license was cancelled on April 25, 2012 for charging excessive fees from applicants.

Under POEA rules and regulations, an order of cancellation is immediately executory.

The POEA also padlocked the offices of Reajent Manpower Services Inc in Quezon City, which continued to accept applications for the position of fruit pickers for Australia that was found to be non-existent. Reajent was under preventive suspension since February 28, 2012.

Visa and immigration appeals on the increase

LONDON, the United Kingdom–Immigration delays and problems are not exclusive to non-European Union (EU) travelers at London’s Heathrow airport.

Processing delays, as well as refusals, are increasingly being experienced by migrants applying for visa extensions, indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and United Kingdom (UK) Naturalization or British Citizenship.

Even EU citizens are not exempt from long waits to exercise treaty rights.

Yellow Card applications for Bulgarians and Romanians are taking up to six months on postal applications and getting an appointment to hand in the documents at the Croydon public office is like trying to get a ticket for the London Olympics.

A year ago it took three to four weeks to obtain a yellow card to study and work in the UK.

Busier than ever with appeals

Anecdotal evidence from immigration advisers suggest an upsurge in immigration and visa appeal cases, as more refusals are dished out for cases which they say would have been granted in the past.

Despite the abolition of student visa appeal rights, following the introduction of Tier 4 of the points based system in 2009, the waiting rooms at Taylor House and Hatton Cross First Tier Tribunal hearing centers look as packed as ever.

Cynthia Barker, of OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner)-registered immigration appeal specialist advisers Bison Management, said they are “busier than ever” with appeal cases: “We have seen more and more clients, especially in the last six months who wish to appeal against refusals by the UK Border Agency or British Embassy visa sections. Bison has won a huge number of appeals including cases on human rights grounds for an overstayer. But the work doesn’t stop once the appeal has been granted. Getting the UKBA or British Embassy to issue the visa is proving more difficult than ever!”

Bulgarian wins student yellow card appeal

Barker added that even EU citizens such as Bulgarians and Romanians are forced to go to appeal at the First-tier Tribunal to obtain their yellow card and exercise their European treaty rights.

“Last month an immigration Judge at Taylor House overturned a student yellow card refusal for a Bulgarian applicant who had been working in the UK since 2009 a self-employed yellow card.”

The UK Border Agency refused her client’s student yellow card application because “as she had started working, her intention was to work rather than study.”

The self-employed Bulgarian wanted to switch to a student card and had enrolled on an NVQ course at Majestic College.

Her application for a student registration card was rejected by the UK Border Agency Bulgarian and Romanian unit in Sheffield.

Rather than reapply and wait several months for another refusal, her immigration advisers, Bison UK, lodged a full appeal at the First-tier Tribunal and a hearing date was granted in five weeks.

“Any work placement is simply a part of that study.” Immigration Judge Saunders

The hearing at London’s Taylor House lasted less than 45 minutes and the Immigration Judge granted the appeal.

In her determination (written decision) Immigration Judge Saunders said: “The evidence before me established that the Appellant (claimant) has been working lawfully as a self-employed EEA national since 2009, and was issued with a Registration Certificate to this effect on 26.1.10. A copy of this is before me. The correspondence indicates that she enrolled to study her current vocational course prior to commencing her vocational work placement. I do not find her intention was to work rather than study. She is already able to work in her current capacity, and remains able to do so.”

“I find therefore that the Appellant has at all material times intended to study, and that any work placement is simply a part of that study.”

The UK Border Agency states that a Bulgarian or Romanian student yellow applicant cannot work before the card is approved, but the Judge appears to disagree.

Referring to European Economic Area (EEA) Regulations, Judge Saunders added: “The Appellant has discharged the burden upon her to establish she is a qualified person, namely a student, within the meaning of regulation 6. I therefore allow the appeal under the 2006 Regulations.”

Unusually, the judge even awarded costs to the student, ordering the UK Border Agency to refund the appeal fee, since their refusal decision was “not in accordance with the law.”

Charles Kelly is the founder of Immigration Matters. He co-authored the book How 2 Come to the UK with Cynthia Barker. If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk.

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Kuwait will start strictly enforcing new measures to address the problem of runaways–workers who abscond or leave their employers before the end of their contracts because of abuse, contract violations and other reasons.

According to a Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) press release, the new measures will involve the verification of employment documents of workers holding Visa 20, or household service workers (HSWs).

Moreover, government will suspend the processing of employment documents of foreign recruitment agencies (FRAs) and Philippine licensed recruitment agencies (PRAs) that have at least one runaway worker residing at the Filipino Workers’ Resource Center (FWRC).

“I have already instructed Labor Attache to Kuwait David Des Dicang to immediately suspend the processing of employment documents of an FRA or PRA even if that FRA or PRA has only one runaway worker at the FWRC,” Baldoz said.

According to Baldoz, the FRAs and PRAs will be given only a week to resolve the case of the worker. Only after the case is settled will the POLO issue an appropriate letter of recommendation to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to resume processing.

Dicang said he expects the number of FWRC resident wards, currently 244, to go down with the implementation of these measures.

Image from Microsoft Office website.

Labor chief Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz commended yesterday the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Kuwait for successfully negotiating with the Kuwait Immigration Office to settle the cases of 55 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who absconded, thus facilitating their immediate return to the Philippines.

The Kuwait Ministry of Interior, through Brig. Gen. Abdullah Awad Al Ali, director of the Office of Domestic Workers Affairs, informed the POLO that an initial KD50,000.00 (US$180,115.27) was approved for release by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor to pay for the repatriation tickets of distressed runaway OFWs housed at the Filipino Workers’ Resource Center (FWRC) in Kuwait.

According to a Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) press release, Labor Attaché to Kuwait David Des Dicang and welfare officer Norita Lugtu negotiated with an official of the Department of Investigation of the Kuwait Immigration Office. They were then assured that runaway workers with absconding cases will soon be repatriated.

“I commend our POLO in Kuwait for this accomplishment and for taking to heart our directive to speed up the repatriation of workers and to transform the FWRC as a ‘center of excellence,’” Baldoz added.

In his report, Dicang said 55 of 244 OFWs in the FWRC have absconding cases. But there may be more of them depending on the outcome of the fingerprint process scheduled by the Kuwait Immigration Office in the coming weeks.

“What is heartening was the assurance of the Kuwait Immigration Office that it will be compelling the workers’ sponsors to shoulder the return tickets to the Philippines or face the prospect of being blacklisted,” Dicang reported.

After the successful negotiation, Dicang said he immediately submitted the names of 50 OFWs who have no travel bans so they can be issued air tickets for their return home.

“Of course, this is subject to availability of flights,” he said.

Dicang also reported to Secretary Baldoz that the Kuwaiti government’s new shelter facility for runaway women workers in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, near the Kuwait International Airport, will already be in full operation by July 1, 2012. By then, Kuwait will no longer allow foreign embassies and consulates to accommodate or house runaway workers.

The facility covers a land area of around 10,000 square meters. It has spacious rooms and amenities that can accommodate more than 1,000 workers of all nationalities. It has a full staff complement working round the clock and a medical clinic to ensure prompt response to any emergencies like physical and sexual abuse cases.

“Kuwait’s present temporary shelter for runaway domestic workers, which has been operating since 2007, can only accommodate 60 workers at any given time,” said Dicang. The new facility will address cases of runaways either by settling the dispute amicably or pursuing cases against abusive employers. The facility will also take the necessary steps within a reasonable period so that workers may be repatriated to their home countries.

The Kuwaiti government has announced that the facility will also function as a “one-stop-shop,” with the ministries of Health, Interior, Social Affairs, Justice and Labor holding offices there. It will also make available office spaces to various embassies of labor-sending countries to facilitate resolution of cases and fast processing and issuance of travel documentation.

Image from Microsoft Office website.

POEA News Release
May 8, 2012

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has filed illegal recruitment cases against nine individuals, and recruitment violation cases against 12 recruitment agencies for illegally deploying Filipino workers to Syria.

In his report to labor chief Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, POEA Administrator Hans Leo J Cacdac said the POEA has assisted 26 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in filing cases against their respective recruitment companies for possible violations of Republic Act (RA) 10022.

The deployment of OFWs to Syria was stopped on April 2011 due to the continuing political tension in the said country.

POEA has also endorsed nine illegal recruitment cases to the Provincial Prosecution Offices of Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Davao del Norte, Sarangani, Camarines Norte, Batangas, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Davao City.

The victims identified their alleged recruiters as Aida Pinagayan, Zoraida Salem, Nora Valadi, Fatima Sabulawan, Marlyn dela Cruz, Crislyn Noble, Juliet dela Fuente, Jake Munib, and Olivia Dayao, respectively.

The recruitment agencies, most of them either with expired, suspended or cancelled licenses were identified as HRHA Manpower International, Inc; Miss Diamond Star International Manpower Services, Inc; MMM International Placement Corp; Multi-System Conexions International, Inc; LFC International Human Resources; RCS Promotions and Overseas Placement, Inc; MSS Talent Management Services, Inc; Greengate Manpower Services Co; and RCS Promotion and Overseas Placement, Inc.

Cacdac urges other victims who were recruited for jobs in Syria during the ban period to come forward and file appropriate cases against their respective agents.

Image provided by iStockphoto via Microsoft Office website.

A new online video message in 14 languages encourages visa overstayers not to delay, but to take action to resolve their immigration status, according to a Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) media release.

The DIAC video–at www.immi.gov.au/csrs–helps visitors to Australia whose visas have expired and are unsure of what information they need, to resolve their situation.

“People who have overstayed their visas can be unaware of what to do or even where they can go to find out,” a departmental spokesman said. “They often rely on information from family, friends or the general community, which can be misleading or not relevant to them.”

The video tells the stories of three people with visa problems, living with the stress of not knowing where to turn next. The advice it offers is simple: contact Immigration and get the right information.

“Most people do attend one of our offices when they realize they have misjudged their circumstances and their visa has expired,” the spokesman said. “Others hesitate for many different reasons; for example, they may worry that they’ll be immediately detained.”

“The reality is that we would normally grant a short-term bridging visa to give the person time to make their own arrangements to depart or, if they are eligible, to apply for an appropriate visa.”

The department’s Community Status Resolution Service (CSRS) is available to provide a greater level of assistance to people whose cases are less straightforward.

The service provides relevant information about a person’s immigration status and situation so they can make fully informed choices.

Since the CSRS was introduced three years ago, more people are engaging with the department to voluntarily resolve their immigration status. The CSRS is a part of the department’s broader approach to managing visa compliance.

During 2010-2011, the department resolved the immigration status of more than 11,000 unlawful non-citizens in Australia, an increase of 5% from 2009-2010.

“Resolving someone’s visa status proactively not only saves the person a lot of angst, but benefits our compliance teams who can concentrate on illegal workers and employers or contractors willfully flouting the Migration Act,” the spokesman said.

People who want to find out more about the CSRS can visit the department’s website or phone 1300 853 773.