Gov't urged to regularly review deployment policies on OFWs
Published Apr 30, 2023 02:59 am
Senator Grace Poe on Sunday, April 30 urged the government to regularly review its deployment policies on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to ensure their safety and well-being.
Poe made the call even as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) were able to successfully repatriate the first batches of OFWs from conflict-torn Sudan.
“We understand the need of our people for better paying jobs, but it is also incumbent upon the government to constantly review its deployment policies to ensure the safety of our countrymen working abroad,” Poe said in a statement.
Poe said she will continue to hope for the safe return of the remaining OFWs and trusts that the government will continue to undertake all efforts to bring Filipinos in Sudan to safety.
“We laud the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Migrant Workers for acting quickly and working tirelessly in facilitating the passage of our OFWs to secure borders on their way home,” the senator also said.
“We will continue to hope for the safe return of the remaining Filipinos in the area,” she said.
Poe also said she hopes that support systems are in place to assist returning Filipinos find alternative jobs or livelihood back in the Philippines, or to undergo skills retooling or training if they wish to.
“Mahalaga ang hanapbuhay, ngunit walang kapalit ang buhay at kaligtasan (A job is important, but there is no substitute for life and safety),” the lawmaker stressed.