Stronger bilateral deals pushed for OFW protection

A Senate leader on Friday pushed for stronger bilateral agreements with other countries in order to protect overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from abuses.

In a statement, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villaneuva said stronger bilateral agreements “should be pursued to guarantee the implementation of standard contracts, just compensation and an effective system for dealing with OFWs in distress.”

“The overarching challenge remains that many of our OFWs face the perils of working in a foreign land,” said Villanueva, principal author of the law establishing the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). 

“We must remain vigilant and continue to collaborate with host countries so our OFWs will be protected.”
 
In his statement, Villanueva lauded the decision of the Kuwaiti appellate court upholding the guilty verdict on the person behind the death of OFW Jullebee Ranara, whose body was found in the desert in January last year.

Ranara, then 35 years old overseas, was reportedly raped and impregnated by the accused, the 17-year-old son of her employer.
 
“The government will stop at nothing until justice is served to our OFWs who have suffered in foreign lands to give their families better lives,” Villanueva said.
 
He also said that it is vital that the DMW has complete staffing in its regional offices to address illegal recruitment and cases of indentured labor. 

He also urgede the department to capacitate its personnel posted in the Migrant Workers’ Offices given the expanded functions to cover all OFWs, “whether documented or undocumented.” —KBK, GMA Integrated News