6 new labor execs deployed to Middle East

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has deployed six new labor officials to the Middle East to attend to the needs of millions of Filipino workers there.

DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said four females and two male labor officials had already left the country for their tour of duty in Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) in the Middle East.

The first batch of female overseas personnel will man the POLOs and assist in daily operations. They will be stationed in Jordan, Riyadh and Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, Baldoz said.

DOLE earlier decided to revamp personnel in POLOs in the Middle East after several labor officials assigned there were accused of engaging in sex-for-flight activities victimizing distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).   

Baldoz said more female welfare officers would be deployed to countries employing OFWs before the end of the month.

Among those deployed in the Middle East were Jordan Labor Attaché Florenda Herrera, Riyadh Assistant Labor Attachés Firma Bantillan, and Rosario Mangahas and Olivia Macawili, who will be both assigned in Jeddah.

Angelita Narvaez was assigned in Kuwait along with Labor Attaché Cesar Chavez Jr., while Assistant Labor Attaché Jaybee John Baginda would be in Riyadh.

Baldoz said the DOLE continues to review the deployment of OFWs to countries which are considered as high- and medium-risk areas, as well the continued deployment of workers in high-risk occupations.

Baldoz said those assigned to the Middle East underwent an intensified gender sensitivity training workshop to ensure the proper addressing of gender needs and issues in the POLOs.

The gender sensitivity training workshop has been part of the pre-departure orientation seminars that a labor attaché or welfare officer undertakes before deployment.