The Philippine Presidential aspirants pushed for protection of undocumented OFWs during the second presidential debates organized by the Commission on Elections.
Vice President Leni Robredo said the undocumented OFWs didn’t get the same protection as was provided to the documented ones.
Robredo said the existing agreements were not enough to cover the undocumented workers as she pushed for a thorough program to incentivize the “undocumented to appear at our embassies or our consulates to let inform them they are there so that when they have a problem we could help them.”
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She also said that the migrant workers were in a position to enjoy retirement benefits on their return to the country with the establishment of a provincial office specialized in hearing their concerns.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso also vowed to protect the documented and undocumented OFWs including those working outside of ASEAN.
Sen. Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson also highlighted that the transition period of the Department of Migrant Workers should be accelerated this year, instead of stretching until 2023, in order to address OFW concerns with haste.
Democratic Party of the Philippines presidential candidate Joey Montemayor said that the undocumented Filipino migrant workers are facing exploitation from their employers.
