OFW issues tackled at Cabinet meeting with Bongbong Marcos

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos and his officials discussed the priorities of the labor and migrant workers departments during the sixth Cabinet meeting yesterday at Malacañang.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said the migrant workers department discussed its plans on digitalization, bilateral labor agreements, repatriation and reintegration of overseas Filipino workers and scholarships, protection and health programs for children of OFWs.

Also discussed during the meeting were matters related to the One Repatriation Command Center, OFW mobile application and the national reintegration program, according to a Facebook post by the Office of the President.

Angeles said the labor department discussed its context, mandates, structure and role in the socio-economic agenda; program, priorities and strategic linkages and “ways forward.”

Malacañang said the agency’s core priority would be to increase employment opportunities, ensure just and humane working conditions and deliver accessible, prompt and continuous services to the people.

“They will discuss the details later on, possibly next week, for the specifics of their plans and programs,” Angeles said.

A Facebook post by Radio Television Malacañang said the President mentioned Tropical Storm Florita in his opening remarks during the meeting.

Marcos suspended government work and public school classes in Metro Manila as well as in Bataan, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Zambales yesterday and today due to the storm.

Meanwhile, a Senate proposal seeking to ban the deployment of domestic helpers in countries practicing Kafala system drew flak from the recruitment industry.

The proposal seeks to prevent abuses of Filipino workers in these countries, mostly located in the Middle East.

Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel raised his concern during the plenary session on Aug. 17 after Sen. Raffy Tulfo presented the plight of some OFWs who were sexually abused, physically assaulted, insulted and not being paid on time by their employers.

Recruitment industry leaders opposed the proposal, saying a deployment ban is not the best solution to the problems besetting Filipino domestic workers.

The proposal covers newly hired domestic workers to eight countries in the Middle East. –  Jose Rodel Clapano