from The Daily Tribune
Paying tribute to the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) contribution to the national economy, Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. pledged yesterday to set up more centers to conduct cultural and legal orientation for prospective migrant workers, particularly the first timers in overseas employment.
According to Teodoro, the centers will focus not only on cultural orientation but also on briefings on the labor and other laws of the country a prospective Filipino worker desires to be employed.
The setting up of more centers was Teodoro’s response to a question aired by a student at a forum in Manila. He was asked what he would do to ensure the protection of the country’s OFWs who are now over eight million worldwide.
“The establishment of such facilities will ensure that our OFWs will not be exploited or pushed around by their employers. Besides this, the cultural seminars will also enable them to mix freely with the natives of the country they will work in,” the 1989 Philippine Bar Examination topnotcher said in Filipino.
Teodoro added the centers should be put up under the direct supervision of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) which could readily come up with cultural and employment briefings on any nation due to its diplomatic contacts.
The Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer also vowed to conduct massive crackdown against illegal recruiters preying on unsuspecting OFWs, particularly those victimizing workers on a large scale — a crime classified as “economic sabotage” in the country’s statute books.
“If the OFWs are truly our modern heroes, then illegal recruiters are our modern foes such that the prosecution and punishment shall be swift, sure and severe with no pardon,” he stressed.
The victims of illegal recruiters include mostly undocumented OFWs who enjoy either little or no protection from the Philippine government because of their undocumented status.
Repatriation of undocumented OFWs could cost the government P700 million, Teodoro emphasized.
“We will not only defend OFWs, we will also seek the prosecution of employers who maltreat our workers,” Teodoro pointed out.
According to Teodoro, the centers will focus not only on cultural orientation but also on briefings on the labor and other laws of the country a prospective Filipino worker desires to be employed.
The setting up of more centers was Teodoro’s response to a question aired by a student at a forum in Manila. He was asked what he would do to ensure the protection of the country’s OFWs who are now over eight million worldwide.
“The establishment of such facilities will ensure that our OFWs will not be exploited or pushed around by their employers. Besides this, the cultural seminars will also enable them to mix freely with the natives of the country they will work in,” the 1989 Philippine Bar Examination topnotcher said in Filipino.
Teodoro added the centers should be put up under the direct supervision of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) which could readily come up with cultural and employment briefings on any nation due to its diplomatic contacts.
The Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer also vowed to conduct massive crackdown against illegal recruiters preying on unsuspecting OFWs, particularly those victimizing workers on a large scale — a crime classified as “economic sabotage” in the country’s statute books.
“If the OFWs are truly our modern heroes, then illegal recruiters are our modern foes such that the prosecution and punishment shall be swift, sure and severe with no pardon,” he stressed.
The victims of illegal recruiters include mostly undocumented OFWs who enjoy either little or no protection from the Philippine government because of their undocumented status.
Repatriation of undocumented OFWs could cost the government P700 million, Teodoro emphasized.
“We will not only defend OFWs, we will also seek the prosecution of employers who maltreat our workers,” Teodoro pointed out.
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