PHL Embassy in Moscow Issues Urgent Reminder: No Legal Status for Household Service Workers in Russia

Philippine Ambassador Carlos D. Sorreta meets with key Russian officials to discuss the issue of Filipino Household Service Workers in Russia.

19 February 2018 MOSCOW – In an advisory issued on February 13, the Philippine Embassy in Moscow reminded that “the category of household service worker is an occupation not open to Filipinos.” The Embassy issued the advisory after receiving queries from the public and media if Filipino household service workers could legally work in Russia.

In the advisory, the Embassy said that Filipinos are allowed to work in certain occupations in Russia, provided they qualify for the appropriate Russian work visa that indicates their actual employer, are able to obtain a Russian work permit that states their actual occupation, are properly registered by their employer in their place of actual residence or employment, and are legally recruited under Philippine law.

“Filipinos can work in Russia, but in very limited and highly regulated sectors that require highly skilled workers. But for Filipino household service workers, we still have to work on creating legal space for them in Russia and we are exerting every effort towards this end,” Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos D. Sorreta said.

The Ambassador said that the Philippine Government is working vigorously to address the situation and that he had been meeting with key Russian officials. “We have been meeting with key officials from the concerned Russian agencies, including foreign affairs, interior, labor and migration to find a solution,” the Ambassador said, adding “in fact today (February 13), I met again with officials of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and discussed this very issue.”

The rights and welfare of Filipinos in Russia are our top most concern and finding ways to legalize the status of Filipino household service workers in Russia is a priority, Ambassador Sorreta said.

“As we try to find a solution, we would like to reiterate our call to those interested in working in Russia to avoid illegal recruiters and to those engaged in illegal recruitment to stop exploiting Filipino workers,” Ambassador Sorreta said.

Advisories and press releases on the work of the Embassy on this issue are on the Embassy’s Facebook and web pages. END

For more information, visit www.moscowpe.dfa.gov.ph.