MANILA, Philippines – Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is pushing for stronger measures to ensure the well-being of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), starting with the illegal recruitment process which continues to victimize many Filipinos.
This as the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers is set to tackle today, February 7, issues that greatly affect OFWs, among them rampant cases of illegal recruitment schemes and the OFWs Financial Literacy Enhancement Act.
“When people get desperate or are into an economic crisis, there would be many recruiters or employers duping those vulnerable, or in countries that have troublesome histories with the rights of migrant workers, we see them getting abused,” Cayetano said.
A former Foreign Affairs Secretary, Cayetano was the principal author of the law that created the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
Raising the necessity of combating massive illegal recruitment schemes, the independent senator continues to advocate for regulated hiring, employment, and deployment processes.
Chaired by Senator Raffy Tulfo, the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers hearing today will also tackle Senate Bill No. 2078 or the OFWs Financial Literacy Enhancement Act which aims to improve the financial knowledge of OFWs.
The bill will make it mandatory for OFWs to attend financial literacy seminars before leaving the Philippines and upon reaching their destination countries.
“Our overseas Filipino workers are our modern-day heroes,” Cayetano had said in an earlier statement.
“They sacrifice so much to provide for their families and contribute to our national economy. We owe it to them to ensure that they are protected and well cared for,” he said.
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