Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo (PPAB)

House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs Chairman Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo has taken a proactive step in looking after the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East. 

This, after Salo left for Tripoli, Libya--upon the authority of Speaker Martin Romualdez--to lead a congressional mission there. Located in North Africa, Libya is a stone throw away from the Middle East countries, where there's a heavy presence of Filipinos. 

Salo says the mission, which runs from April 22 to 26, aims to facilitate high-level talks concerning the rights and protection of OFWs, to assess the contingency plans set by the Philippine officials, and to evaluate the necessity of continuing the ongoing deployment ban by the Philippines to Libya. 

"With the Middle East facing increasing instability, our mission is timely and necessary," the Kabayan solon said. 

"We aim to ensure the welfare and safety of OFWs against the backdrop of escalating conflicts in the Middle East by exploring how to strengthen our mechanisms to ensure their effective implementation," he noted. 

Salo said the mission aligns with an invitation extended by Ali Al-Hadi Al-Maqouri, Ph.D, Undersecretary for Employment Affairs of the Libyan Ministry of Labor and Rehabilitation. 

The purpose is to discuss employment opportunities for Filipinos and assess the feasibility of lifting the deployment ban imposed by the Philippines in 2019 as Libyan oil companies, construction firms, and schools are actively seeking to hire workers. 

"The mission will serve as a platform to discuss proposals aimed at identifying and expanding employment opportunities for Filipinos who wish to work in Libya, ensuring that our policies are aligned with their best interests," said Salo. 

The delegation also aims to undertake consultation meetings with the Filipino community in Libya to discuss key legislative measures concerning the protection and welfare of [OFWs] and gain valuable insights from the Filipinos residing there. 

"With the current geopolitical challenges, it is imperative that we, as lawmakers, understand the situation from the perspective of our OFWs in Libya," Salo underscored.