MANILA, Philippines—Stunned by the vehement rejection of migrant workers rights’ advocates, recruiters on Tuesday said they are withdrawing their proposal to Congress for mandatory insurance coverage for overseas Filipino workers.
Victor Fernandez, president of the 28-year-old Philippine Association of Service Exports Inc. (Pasei), which has 700 licensed recruitment agencies as members, however said he and his colleagues will offer insurance coverage for departing OFWs on a voluntary basis.
“We are withdrawing the proposal. It is lamentable that they do not take well our offer to OFWs and that we are vilified for this,” said Lito Soriano, of LBS e-recruitment.
The bicameral conference committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday evening on the proposal and other amendments to the Migrant Workers Act.
“We will move to delete anything and everything related to insurance. We are withdrawing our offer to cover all workers. However, Pasei will still have insurance coverage on voluntary basis with or without the government because the responsibility for OFW protection is still there,” said Fernandez.
Soriano said the recruitment sector only wanted to pass the financial burden of OFW protection to the industry whose business is securing risks.
Both Soriano and Fernandez said they could not understand why the migrant workers rights advocates are refusing their offer.
“We can’t see their point,” they said.
Earlier, the Center for Migrant Advocacy opposed the proposal, arguing it principally shields the government and the recruiters from their responsibility to the OFWs. –INQUIRER.net
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
“Safety and health at work every day!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
March – Women’s Role in History Month
April – Month of Planet Earth
Weekly Observances:
Last Week of March: Protection and Gender Fair Treatment of the Girl Child Week
Last Week of April – World Immunization Week
Daily Observances:
Mar 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transallantic Slave Trade
Mar 27– Earth Hour
Apr 21 – Civil Service Day
Apr 22 – World Earth Day
Apr 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
