Marcos vows more benefits to promote OFWs' welfare
By Raymund Antonio and Raymund Antonio
Published Jul 25, 2023 12:52 am
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. assured overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that his administration will look after their welfare by continually crafting policies and entering into agreements to improve their working conditions.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his second State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 24, 2023. (Malacañang photo)
During his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 24, the Chief Executive stressed that he would continue to prioritize “ethical recruitment, fair employment, and the safe and orderly migration of OFWs” in agreements with other countries. He also promised support for repatriated OFWs who need to be reintegrated into the domestic economy. “We are engaging with our partners in the international community to ensure a safe working environment for our countrymen. As we do so, we are also putting in place responsive mechanisms for the social welfare, repatriation, and reintegration of our returning OFWs into the Philippine economy,” he said in his 70-minute speech. Marcos shared that several countries have signified interest to explore bilateral labor cooperation with the Philippines in the areas of healthcare, tourism, hospitality, engineering, construction, and information technology. So far, agreements have been signed with Singapore, Austria, and the province of Alberta in Canada. Through these agreements, some 70,000 Filipino workers have been deployed to Saudi Arabia, with the reassurance from the Saudi government that it would process the unpaid salaries and other related claims of some 14,000 OFWs who were laid off during the pandemic. “The Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia himself personally committed to me that the unpaid claims of Filipino workers would now be paid,” Marcos said. The Chief Executive further lauded the continued employment of some 50,000 seafarers aboard European Union vessels after addressing problems in their training and certification. “The lesson for us is that our education and skills training must always be attuned to the high, exacting and constantly evolving global standards,” he added. He shared that there was a rise in the number of OFW deployment since the global economy reopened. In 2022, the deployment increases by 62 percent, with OFWs contributing $32.5 billion to the economy through remittances.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his second State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 24, 2023. (Malacañang photo)
During his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 24, the Chief Executive stressed that he would continue to prioritize “ethical recruitment, fair employment, and the safe and orderly migration of OFWs” in agreements with other countries. He also promised support for repatriated OFWs who need to be reintegrated into the domestic economy. “We are engaging with our partners in the international community to ensure a safe working environment for our countrymen. As we do so, we are also putting in place responsive mechanisms for the social welfare, repatriation, and reintegration of our returning OFWs into the Philippine economy,” he said in his 70-minute speech. Marcos shared that several countries have signified interest to explore bilateral labor cooperation with the Philippines in the areas of healthcare, tourism, hospitality, engineering, construction, and information technology. So far, agreements have been signed with Singapore, Austria, and the province of Alberta in Canada. Through these agreements, some 70,000 Filipino workers have been deployed to Saudi Arabia, with the reassurance from the Saudi government that it would process the unpaid salaries and other related claims of some 14,000 OFWs who were laid off during the pandemic. “The Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia himself personally committed to me that the unpaid claims of Filipino workers would now be paid,” Marcos said. The Chief Executive further lauded the continued employment of some 50,000 seafarers aboard European Union vessels after addressing problems in their training and certification. “The lesson for us is that our education and skills training must always be attuned to the high, exacting and constantly evolving global standards,” he added. He shared that there was a rise in the number of OFW deployment since the global economy reopened. In 2022, the deployment increases by 62 percent, with OFWs contributing $32.5 billion to the economy through remittances.