The House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs chaired by KABAYAN Party-list Representative Ron Salo approved with amendments the unnumbered substitute bill institutionalizing mechanisms for the protection and welfare of minor children and families left behind by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The bill seeks to address the unique challenges faced by OFW families in the Philippines, ensuring their well-being and fostering a supportive environment for their development.
The bill seeks to address the unique challenges faced by OFW families in the Philippines.
The substitute measure replaced House Bills 370 and 8560, both of which were authored by OFW Party-list Representative Marissa Del Mar Magsino.
The panel also conducted initial discussions on HB 8951 or the act instituting the Magna Carta of Filipino Migrant Workers, and is authored by Salo.
The lawmaker stated that the proposed legislation seeks to provide comprehensive protection, as well as promote the rights of OFWs in alignment with international conventions, existing laws and the Philippine Constitution.
The bill encompasses the: 1) establishment of the foundation for the State to promote, defend, and fulfill OFW rights; 2) education and empowerment of OFWs regarding their rights through the proposed Magna Carta; and 3) explanation of the industry’s interconnectedness to protect and promote migrant workers’ rights and other stakeholders’ roles.
Relevant government agencies, such as the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), Department of Justice (DOJ) and Bureau of Immigration (BOI), among others, provided initial recommendations on the proposed measure.
