Baldoz pushes for better protection of OFWs in Middle East

DUBAI – Philippine labor attaches based in the Middle East met recently with Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz to discuss how to better protect overseas Filipino workers, particularly those who have pending cases or are distressed.
“It’s a well-rounded approach on how to take care of our OFWs in terms of the policy of protection initiated by the president, which is a priority policy,” Baldoz said.

The second round of talks between the labor office in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines on the management of contractual migration will be held in April.

“Nag-uusap na po tayo ng bilaterally kung paano maaayos itong challenge sa ating very excellent bilateral relations” said Ambassador Grace Princesa.

Baldoz was also with Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis who discussed the security situation in several countries in the Middle East.

“What we are doing is to negotiate for the amount with the employers so that the workers can be released for exit if they are undocumented, fund is being provided by the DFA under the assistant to national budget,” said Baldoz.

Meanwhile, the deployment ban of workers for the health care sector and oil and gas industry has been partially lifted in Libya because of improving situation in the country.

The Philippines is also hoping that the demand for Filipino skilled workers will increase in countries belonging to the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Baldoz said the preference for Filipinos is seen and felt “in terms of the number of workers that they are recruiting from the Philippines”. Report from Maja Moralda, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau