OFWs, rejoice! A new law has been authored and approved for your benefit.
According to Senator Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, acting chairman of the Senate labor committee and one of the principal authors of the new law, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will be a greater source of protection for OFWs working across the world.
Under Republic Act 10801, OWWA has just been declared a national attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment. As such, OWWA would now be receiving government funding instead of relying mostly from OFW contributions.
Sen. Angara said:
“The law strengthens the mandate of OWWA in addressing the needs and concerns of OFWs, their families, and the overseas labor sector.”
Moreover, it has also been mentioned that the new law will require OWWA Board of Trustees to have more OFW representatives.
Sen. Angara added:
“As the principal agency of the government that serves and promotes the rights, interest and welfare of OFWs and their families, the composition of the OWWA Board of Trustees must be reformed to really represent the OFW sector, to lend a voice to the 2.4 million OFWs.”
Accordingly, the government’s capacity to help migrant workers who lose their jobs will be assisted as well. They will also be referred to OWWA’s OFW reintegration program. This may even lead to great opportunities such as granting of loans and other financial support, training on financial literacy, entrepreneurial development, techno-skills, business counseling as well as job referrals for both local and overseas employment.
Angara concluded:
“No matter how far away they are, we should make our OFWs feel that the distance does not diminish our care, that our government listens and responds to them. We should better equip and strengthen OWWA so it can truly fulfill its special duty of developing and implementing welfare programs and services that respond to the needs of its member-OFWs and their families.”
via: interaksyon