Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Susan “Toots” Ople threatens to divulge in public the names of employers and recruitment agencies, both local and in abroad, that have been blacklisted due to recruitment and labor violations, including severe exploitation and abuse of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Ople gave this stern warning on Thursday, Aug. 18, following her order to to impose stricter measures to protect the rights and welfare of OFWs, particularly domestic workers.
“Safeguarding the rights and welfare of our migrant workers is at the heart of the DMW’s programs, services, and agreements. We will always strive to do our best amid so many challenges in the world we live in,” Ople said.
Ople also appealed to OFWs to be more cautious on bogus offers, report illegal recruiters and discern human traffickers, as she also emphasized that only qualified and fully trained domestic workers will be allowed to work abroad.
The department also required mandatory viewing to employers of a video on OFW rights and welfare, before signing contract and creation of a “white list" of recruitment agencies and foreign recruitment agencies that have shown good record of employing domestic workers. (Jun Marcos Tadios)