Senator Cynthia Villar on Monday, January 22, 2018, called upon the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to assess and enhance the overseas employment program for the protection of the overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
Villar pointed out that the suspension of the deployment of the Filipinos to Kuwait should be a wake-up call for the agencies to look for further actions that can solve the “perennial problems” faced by OFWs, reported the Manila Bulletin.
“The DFA and DOLE should also look into why so many of our domestic workers especially in the Middle East are being deprived of their basic rights and subjected to abuse and exploitation. Let us do everything possible to make sure that they are hired by good employers.”
Citing the data gathered by her office, she said the number of OFWs deployed to Kuwait grew from 70,098 in 2014 to 109,615 in 2016; however, the number of embassy personnel are not enough to cater the expats abroad.
Thus, the senator insisted for DOLE and DFA to deliberate long-term solutions that would encourage the OFWs to stay and work in the country instead.
