Council on Migrants and Itinerant people’s welfare empowers OFWs in La Union

San Fernando City, La Union (27 Jan) –Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families, either displaced or presently working abroad were glad to have the inter-agency council for Migrants Concern here in La Union or the LUIMCO whose primary concern is the welfare and empowerment of OFWs in the locality.

In a meeting held Wednesday, January 26, different line-agencies shared the various interventions they have undertaken in response to the major concerns of these migrant workers..

Discussion evolved on the vital issues and informations like human trafficking, OFWs benefits and rights, institutionalization of OFW Migrants Desk in LGUs, mandatory insurance to OFWs, free training and services on micro enterprising, legal services on non-support of child/family by OFWs/economic violence, arrest of illegal recruiters, maltreatment of OFWs abroad, OFWs wittingly/unwittingly recruited as drug mules, and the voluntary membership program offered to undocumented or irregular workers.

One displaced OFW who had a painful experience in Lebanon also shared the maltreatment she got from her employers for a period of 10 months and how she was able to survive and manage to come home without any single cent in her pocket.

Meanwhile, Edmund Ruga of the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People informed the body about the proposed trainor’s training which aims to equipt the migrant ministry officers, municipal OFW migrants desk officer and all the focal persons from the different line-agencies with all the necessary informations focusing on the life situation of OFWs on the job-site, the pre-employment, during and post-employment stages and all other problems needed to be addressed.

The different line-agencies present during the meeting were the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Social Security System, the Diocese Desk for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, Philippine Information Agency, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Education, Philippine Health Insurance Company, Public Employment Services Office, Philippine National Police, Maritime Industry, Philippine Ports Authority, ECMI, Technical Educational Skills and Development Authority and the Commission on Human Rights. (PIA-La Union)