The principal author of the ‘OFW Department’ proposal said President Rodrigo Duterte may likely sign the bill on Tuesday, December 27.
Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) Representative Raymund Mendoza is among the main proponents of the bill in the lower house.
Duterte has certified the bill creating the Department of Migrant Workers as urgent.
Under the proposed bill, the Department shall be the primary agency under the Executive Branch of the government tasked to protect the rights and promote the welfare of OFWs, regardless of status and of the means of entry into the country of destination.
The POEA will become the core agency while OWWA will become an attached agency.
Under the new department, OFWs will now be defined as a Filipino who is to be engaged, is engaged, or has been engaged in remunerated activity in a country of which he or she is not an immigrant, citizen, or permanent resident or is not awaiting naturalization, recognition, or admission.
Filipino immigrants or permanent residents in other countries shall now be looked after by the Department of Foreign Affairs
So-called “undocumented” or “irregular” OFWs shall Likewise be looked after by this new Department.
