THE PHILIPPINE Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) warned applicants on Tuesday that no language training fees will be collected for certain job categories like Japan technical internships.
It also told recruiters and agencies not to charge training fees.
In a statement Tuesday, POEA Administrator Bernard P. Olalia said language training fees for Japan’s Technical Internship Training Program (TITP) are paid for by the employer or accepting organization in Japan.
“In the case of technical intern training for any of the TITP-approved occupations, the cost of the mandatory language training is paid for by the Japanese supervising or implementing organization,” he said.
Those applying as housekeepers for National Strategic Special Zones (NSSZ) in Japan are also not to be charged training fees.
The POEA said that it had received reports of Japanese language training centers charging workers training fees before or after deployment to Japan.
“Licensed recruitment agencies or sending organizations and their affiliate-training institutions are enjoined to strictly observe the non-fee charging policy,” POEA said.
According to Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Department Order No. 188 issued in August 2018, collection of fees from TITP candidates is prohibited. As for housekeeper applicants under the NSSZ, POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 8, series of 2016 states the workers’ employers are responsible for training expenses. — Gillian M. Cortez
