Ople Urges Creation of OFW Department

An advocate for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) believes it is time for a government department that will specialize on issues concerning Filipinos working abroad.

Senatorial bet, Susan “Toots” Ople said although various agencies are now being tapped to help resolve OFW issues, a specific department will speed up government response.

“Then you would have a strategic approach to labor migration; it’s not reactionary,” she said.

Ople said if elected to Senate, she will ask for the chairmanship of the labor committee.

She plans to put together experts to look into overseas employment programs, review the labor code, and enact laws that will boost participation of women in employment and prohibit age discrimination.

Ople said workers at the age of 35 are considered old in the Philippines and this pushes them to work abroad where they are offered bigger wages. But many employers abroad “treat their employees like commodities” to maximize their payment.

Ople also wants the inclusion of OFWs in the PhilHealth coverage optional.

“Paglipat mo sa abroad, pag nagkasakit ka, you have 180 days to put all the requirements together para you can get a reimbursement. Pero karamihan naman ng OFWs, pag nagkasakit na, ang [objective] nyan makabalik agad sa trabaho kasi baka matanggal sila,” said Ople.

JOB ROAD MAP

Ople highlighted the need for a job road map to be embedded into the national budget “because the biggest ally of poverty is unemployment.”

“You need to mobilize government resources kasi ‘yan yung under sa control ng executive at legislature; mobilize it to create jobs or at least to facilitate the creation of jobs.”

Ople said enrollees of senior high schools have also become more vulnerable to exploitation.

“Sana very clear na ano ba ang dahilan bakit ba tayo may additional two years. Wag na ipangako na job-ready ka na after senior high school. Hindi naman ganun kadali yun,” she said.

(Source: ABS-CBN.com)