MANILA, Philippines – The government is offering loan assistance for Filipino workers who may be displaced in Saudi Arabia because of the new hiring policy implemented in the Middle East kingdom.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), under the P2-billion reintegration program, is offering no collateral loans for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who would want to put up or expand an existing business in the country.
Vivian Tornea of the OWWA National Reintegration Center for OFWs said OFWs may apply for a loan as long as they can guarantee that the enterprise they intend to put up or expand will earn at least P10,000 per month.
Applicants should submit business plans to OWWA regional offices.
“The program aims to ensure that the OFW’s business or livelihood is sustainable not only in supporting the needs of his family but also in enabling them to generate jobs and contribute to community development so that they will no longer go back to their jobs abroad,” Tornea said.
OWWA administrator Carmelita Dimzon said they have been receiving numerous inquiries from Filipino workers in the Middle East who were inspired by OFWs who chose to return to the country and put up businesses.
“We have been receiving calls from OFWs, including professionals from all over the world, asking how they could avail of our program so they would be able to put up dental clinics or agribusiness and eventually stay in the country for good,” Dimzon said.
Saudi Arabia has suspended the processing of employment contracts of Filipino household workers to protest the base monthly pay of $400 demanded by the Philippine government for domestic helpers.
Labor officials said the government is preparing contingency measures to minimize the effect of displacement of thousands of workers from Saudi Arabia. The government, meanwhile, has lifted the deployment ban to Bahrain.
After the lifting of the ban, the Bureau of Immigration has imposed a tight pre-departure screening of Filipinos leaving for the Middle East nation to prevent an influx of illegal workers. –-Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star) with Pia Lee-Brago, Rudy Santos, Evelyn Macairan
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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