Gov’t plans to have a bank for OFWs, says Bello

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the government is planning to establish a bank for overseas Filipino workers, a report on Unang Balita on Monday said.


Bello said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration has pooled almost P20 billion from the contribution of OFWs.
The government is planning to use this money to buy a bank and name it OFW Bank, the Labor secretary told OFWs in Hong Kong.
Bello also met with labor officials in Hong Kong regarding the suggestion to add a clause in OFWs' contracts saying the cleaning of windows in high-rise buildings is not covered by the service agreement.
A 35-year-old Filipina domestic helper fell to her death in August as she was reportedly cleaning the outside of the windows of her employer's apartment. 
Domestic helpers in Hong Kong then marched in protest on Sept. 4 after several maids fell to their death from tower block windows as they tried to clean them.
The Hong Kong government has no commitment yet regarding this matter.
Bello also visited Filipinos in temporary shelters seeking refuge from employer abuse.
He assured OFWs planning to return to the Philippines that the government will assist them so they can start a business. —KG, GMA News

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