MANILA, Philippines—Vice President Noli de Castro proposed on Monday to increase the minimum age requirement for Filipino overseas maids from 23 to 25 years old to ensure they would be mature enough for the rigors of their jobs.De Castro, who is presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), made the counter- proposal after he was informed that the Department of Foreign Affairs wanted to raise it to 30 years old in a proposal submitted to the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) Governing Board for approval. The Vice President said that around 48,000 to 50,000 domestic helpers have been deployed abroad by the government under the present age requirement of 23 and raising that to 30 years old would displace many workers already abroad. He also noted that most members of the household service staff abroad were below 29 years old. “I think 25 is better than 30 years old since people at this age are already mature,” De Castro told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in an interview. He said the government should instead strictly screen applicants, particularly those coming from Mindanao who have no birth certificates. According to De Castro, some of the victims of abuse abroad faked their ages on their birth certificates to meet the age requirement of 23 years and above. DFA Spokesperson Claro Cristobal, asked to explain the DFA recommendation, said “Because we see the situation on the ground.” Cristobal added : “The proposal is very important because at age 30, they are already mature and are able to exercise better judgment.” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. first made the proposal to increase the age requirement to 30 years old at an inter-agency meeting chaired by Labor Secretary Marianito Roque last week. Conejos said raising the minimum age requirement would ensure that aspiring Filipino domestic helpers "are emotionally and mentally prepared to face the challenges posed by employment abroad." The Department of Labor and Employment was said to be considering Conejos' proposal, said a DFA statement. In a related development, De Castro is endorsing Stress Management Training for OFWs to enable them to better cope with the hardships of working abroad. De Castro's endorsement for the training came following a proposal of the DFA to require mandatory psychological test for workers seeking employment abroad. "Workers applying for work abroad should first gain skills and learn techniques on stress management considering the peculiar socio-cultural setting in the country they will be working in," De Castro said. He said the program should be given for free and incorporated in the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) and any expense should be shouldered by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). He stressed that no additional economic burden would be imposed on OFWs. De Castro further proposed that the coverage be limited to those domestic helpers and caregivers whose workplaces would be in households. "Because unlike those working in medical centers, domestic helpers and caregivers employed in residences are often alone in handling difficult situation," he said. De Castro noted that the present psychological test required of OFWs would not be a sufficient measure to guard against untoward incidents. In cases like those of Marilou Ranario whose defense in a murder case was to plead insanity, severe work conditions and maltreatment inevitably placed OFWs in situations that provoked them to commit even criminal acts. "When they leave the country, they are psychologically and mentally healthy. However, stress brought about by maltreatment in the work place subsequently affects their mental condition," De Castro said. "Stress is a common thing in life but there are ways of coping with adversity that will help our workers handle problems with employers and adjust to different situations that they may encounter abroad," he added. | 
