MANILA – In a significant move to enhance the protection of migrant workers and combat illegal recruitment and human trafficking, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is seeking to establish more partnerships with various local government units (LGUs) across the country.
On Tuesday, the DMW’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) sealed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with 16 towns in Palawan, focusing on comprehensive pre-employment orientation seminars (PEOS) for aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The municipalities of Agutaya, Araceli, Balabac, Brookes Point, Cagayancillo, El Nido, Kalayaan, Quezon, Rizal, San Vicente, Magsaysay, Cuyo, Dumaraan, Sofronio Espanola, and Taytay, along with the City and Provincial PESO of Puerto Princesa, have inked the MOA with the DMW.
The PEOS program aims to empower and safeguard OFWs from unscrupulous recruiters and syndicates.
Undersecretary Bernard Olalia of DMW stated that the MOA would bolster the department’s efforts to combat illegal recruitment by providing future OFWs with comprehensive information on overseas employment. This includes outlining the potential benefits, risks involved, and legal channels for working abroad to prevent them from falling victim to illegal recruiters.
Additionally, an OFW Help Desk will be established in all partner municipalities to offer immediate repatriation and legal assistance to OFWs and their families.
Through a collaborative effort between the DMW, the National Reintegration Center for OFWs, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, in coordination with the LGUs, comprehensive reintegration interventions and support will be provided to returning OFWs and their families.
As part of the reintegration initiatives, returning OFWs will receive livelihood assistance and skills enhancement training, allowing them to explore alternate employment opportunities should they decide to remain in the country permanently.
Olalia emphasized, “This convergence partnership is a shared initiative of the national and local government to empower prospective and current OFWs and their families and safeguard their welfare at the very start of their overseas employment journey.”
The collaborative efforts between the DMW and LGUs signify a significant step forward in protecting the rights and welfare of Filipino migrant workers, ensuring their safe and informed engagement in overseas employment.
