Magpapatupad ang Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) ng mas istriktong hakbang para protektahan ang karapatan at kapakanan ng mga Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), partikular ang domestic workers.
“Safeguarding the rights and welfare of our migrant workers is at the heart of the DMW’s programs, services, and agreements. We will always strive to do our best amid so many challenges in the world we live in,” ayon kay Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople.
Kasabay nito, sinabi ng kalihim na gagabayan ang kagawaran ng mga layuning nakapaloob sa United Nations (UN) Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration pagdating sa bilateral labor agreements sa ibang bansa.
Sa pamamagitan nito, matitiyak aniya ang rights-based approach sa deployment ng OFWs.
Narito ang ilang inisyatiba ng DMW para masigurong protektado ang OFWs, lalo na sa domestic workers:
– Performance review at assessment ng lisensyadong recruitment agencies at kanilang foreign counterparts base sa deployment numbers, at tutukan at aktuhan ang welfare cases;
– Paglalabas ng country-specific employment contracts alinsunod sa account prevailing labor laws at migration policies at maging sa bilateral labor agreements
– Istriktong department guidelines para masiguro na ang mga kwalipikado at fully trained domestic workers laman ang made-deploy abroad
– Mandatory viewing ng lahat ng bagong employers ng video ukol OFW rights and welfare, bago pumirma ng employment contracts
– Pagbuo ng White list ng recruitment agencies at foreign recruitment agencies kung saan makikita ang istriktong pagtupad sa patas at ethical recruitment standards at principles, para magabayan ang OFWs at foreign employers
– Pag-review at pagbuo ng bagong verification guidelines ng POLO
Sinabi pa ni Ople na sisimulan na ng kagawaran ang paglalabas ng identities ng foreign employers at recruitment agencies, kapwa lokal at foreign, na naging blacklisted dahil sa recruitment at labor violations, kasama ang severe exploitation at abuse sa OFWs.
“We also appeal to our kababayans to be more discerning about such bogus offers, and to report illegal recruiters and human traffickers to the DMW,” apela pa nito.
Dagdag ni Ople, “Even countries where the sponsorship or ‘Kafala system’ is in place have signed this UN document, signifying their support to sound migration governance and humane treatment of migrant workers, including those in vulnerable occupations such as domestic work.”
Mahigit 150 bansa ang pabor sa UN Global Compact on Migration maliban sa limang bansa; Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Poland, at United States.