The Bangsamoro government in the Philippines and Malacañang are highlighting the implementation of a new regional law that protects constituent-overseas workers from maltreatment by employers.
The Overseas Bangsamoro Workers Act was approved in its final reading on June 17 by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) — also known as the regional interim parliament. The law had been proposed by the region’s labor minister, Romeo Sema.
Sema stated on June 19 that the Act would be implemented in close coordination with the central offices of the Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office.
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Meanwhile, stakeholders expressed elation over the OBWA approval by the 80-member parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which is led by the region’s chief minister, Ahod Balawag Ebrahim.
Fatima Sidik — a 58-year-old mother of two domestic helpers in Kuwait – expressed certainty of this regional law ensuring the protection and welfare of her children in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the OBWA highlighted establishing service facets for socio-economic and psycho-social interventions needed by overseas Filipino workers from the five provinces and three cities inside BARMM’s core territory.
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Farmer Mutalib Gandingan, 54, said that he would send a copy of the OBWA to his son who is working as a janitor in a commercial establishment in Qatar.
North Cotabato Vice-Governor Emmylou Mendoza and Gerry Salapuddin, administrator of the state-run Southern Philippines Development Authority, have lauded the Ministry of Labor and Employment-BARMM and the BTA for jointly forming the OBWA.
Describing it as a much-needed edict, Salapuddin said this law would help to address the many cases of maltreatment by foreign employers of OFWs from BARMM. (AW)
