Presidential bets bat for protection of OFWs, especially undocumented

Five presidential candidates on Sunday said the government should ensure the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including the undocumented ones. At the second presidential debate organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Vice President Leni Robredo lamented how undocumented OFWs don't enjoy the same protection as the documented. To address this, Robredo said the government must encourage undocumented OFWs to appear before Philippine embassies and consulates by offering them incentives. "We should have a program incentivizing undocumented OFWs for them to appear in embassies o sa ating consulates, na ipaalam na nandun sila para pag may problema ay matulungan sila," she said. She also said there should be an "agreement on portability" where an OFW can enjoy his/her retirement benefits from the employer even if he/she decides to return to the Philippines. "Yung mga nagre-retire natin na OFWs na gusto nang umuwi dito, ayaw nang umuwi dahil hindi nila nai-enjoy yung mga benefits na mai-enjoy nila dun sa mga pinagtatrabahuhan nila," Robredo said. Dr. Jose Montemayor Jr., meanwhile, noted that undocumented OFWs "are prone to abuse by their employers or also by companies of whom they work." He pointed out that at present, the country has agreements with Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore regarding protection of migrant workers, both documented and undocumented. "Sa hindi pagkakaalam ng maraming Pilipino, yan po ay operative na yan. Dapat lang yung undocumented workers, dapat ma-report po kaagad yan kahit saan man sila lalung-lalo na may disaster, may crisis, may pahirap na ginagawa ng kanilang employers, dapat mai-report sa embassies natin," he said. For Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, the government must enter into bilateral labor agreements to protect documented and undocumented Filipinos abroad. He also proposed the hiring of "good" labor officers in Philippine embassies, and batted for programs that would give OFWs opportunities to do business in the country. Senator Manny Pacquiao, meanwhile, expressed hope that the newly created Department of Migrant Workers, as well as the OFW Handbook law that he authored, would help ensure the protection of OFWs. Senator Panfilo Lacson, however, suggested that the implementation of the law on the Department of Migrant Workers be "accelerated." "Ang problema doon ang transition period nito'y hanggang 2023. So mai-suggest ko lang po na dapat i-accelerate na lang natin ang transition at maging pro-active ang mga POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Office) na magiging Migrant Workers' Office," he said. —Llanesca Panti, Hana Bordey, Richa Noriega, Joahna Lei Casilao, Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News

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