All existing Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) will soon be converted into the new ‘Migrant Workers’ Office’(MWO) to give all overseas Filipino workers a one-stop shop for all of their requirements relating to their work abroad.
Section 15 of Republic Act 11641 highlights that foreign service posts in countries with a large concentration of OFWs, such as the UAE, will be amongst the first to witness the establishment of the MWO.
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The new MWO will absorb the functions and powers of all existing POLOs, Offices of Social Welfare Attache (OSWA) as well as OFW-related functions of the Assistance-to-Nationals arm of the Philippine Embassies and Consulates.
Similar to the function of its predecessor, among the priority tasks of the newly-formed MWO will be to ensure the promotion and protection of the welfare and interests of OFWs and assist them in all problems arising out of employer-employee relationships. This includes assistance for OFWs whose employers were found to have violated of work contracts, non-payment of wages and other benefits, illegal dismissal, and other violations of the terms and conditions of their employment.
