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What ASEAN Summit could mean for OFWs

As the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders inked a “landmark document” on migrant workers today, Nov. 14, overseas Filipino workers (OFW) are guaranteed with several rights against unfair treatment and exploitation in their host countries in the region.

The “ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers” will be signed at 6:15 p.m. later by Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines, which is the bloc’s chair this year.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the consensus ensures:

• Fair treatment of migrant workers with respect to gender and nationality
• Visitation rights by family members
• Prohibition of passport confiscation and overcharging of placement or recruitment fees
• Protection against violence and sexual harassment in the workplace
• Regulation of recruiters for better protection of workers
• Workers’ right to fair and appropriate remuneration and benefits and their right to join trade unions and association
 

Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos, chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Migrants on Itinerant People at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, expressed his support for the measure.

“This manifests their concern and compassion of the plight of our migrant workers,” he said.

“Their decision is the best and very beneficial to all migrant workers regardless of their nationalities,” he added.

According to Philippine Overseas Employment Administration statistics as of 2016, there are 212,435 OFWs in Southeast Asia.

Photo credit to the owner

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