Senator Koko Pimentel III stressed the urgency “to review and revisit Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 for purposes of addressing rising cases of abuse against OFWs.”
“The Magna Carta for OFWs is still a good law but we may need to strengthen it to cover and penalize incidents of abuse of our Pinoy workers by employers and agencies abroad, and by Philippine-based recruitment agencies.”
Pimentel was reacting to recent reports that a 22-year old female OFW currently under the care of the Bahay Kalinga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia was raped and abused by a representative of her local recruitment agency last December 2018.
“We may need to strengthen it to cover and penalize incidents of abuse of our Pinoy workers by employers and agencies abroad, and by Philippine-based recruitment agencies.”
The legislator likewise cited the plight of a handful of household service workers forced to work for more than 10 hours in different households and render another two hours of duty at the house of their original employer.
“The law should be the last refuge of our modern Filipino heroes when their welfare is at stake.”
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has ordered a probe of the above incidents, warning that erring local agencies can be subject to suspension.
“Two things can be made to the existing Magna Carta. First, let’s expand coverage of violations and increase penalties, then we study the possibillity of increasing fund assistance allocations.”
RA 8042, Pimentel noted, provides for a legal assistance fund of P100 million
Pimentel, who topped the 1990 Bar exams, further clarified that amendments introduced to the law by RA 10022 in 2009 created a Congressional Oversight Committee empowered to monitor compliance with the law.
“The Magna Carta states that the Committee can determine weaknesses in the law and recommend the necessary remedial legislation or executive measures. Perhaps we need to constitute the Oversight Committee as soon as possible.”
The Mindanao-born lawmaker likewise reiterated his call for the creation of a separate Department of Overseas Filipino Workers (DOFW), pointing out that almost one in every eleven Filipinos is toiling overseas and their welfare needs to be fully ensured and protected.
The creation of a department for OFWs was one of the campaign promises of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“While we work to establish a DOFW, let’s improve the OFW Magna Carta. The law should be the last refuge of our modern Filipino heroes when their welfare is at stake,” Pimentel said.
