Gov’t forms 3 task forces for Pinoy workers in Middle East


By RIE TAKUMI, GMA News
The government has created three task forces for the welfare of Filipino contract workers in the Middle East, Labor Secretary Silvestro Bello III announced Monday.
Bello said the first team, led by Labor Undersecretary Ciriaco Lagunzad III and Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration Deputy Administrator Arnel Ignacio is tasked to assess the situation of Filipino workers.
It will monitor the real-time situation of Filipino contract workers on the ground and assess their needs based on its observations.
The first team will leave for the Gulf country on February 20.
The second team is led by Labor Undersecretary Claro Arellano. It will hold job fairs for Filipino workers who will be affected by the total deployment ban to Kuwait.
Labor Undersecretary Dominador Say will lead the third task force, which will handle the repatriation of Filipino workers who will heed President Rodrigo Duterte's call to return home.
During the same briefing, Bello presented the siblings of the Filipino worker Joanna Daniela Demafelis, whose body was discovered inside a freezer in Kuwait.
The Labor chief vowed to recall officials if it will be proven that they neglected to follow up inquiries made the siblings regarding the status of Demafelis.
Demafelis' family is asking the Philippine government for a swift justice for the slain Filipino worker.
Raul Dado, executive director of the Office of Migrant Workers Affairs, had said that Kuwaiti law enforcers are already hunting down Demafelis' employers, who have reportedly fled to Lebanon. —ALG, GMA News

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