Recruiters take back insurance proposal for OFWs

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