(Eagle News) – The House committee on overseas workers affairs will conduct a hearing to determine whether there are destination countries of Overseas Filipino Workers without bilateral agreements with the Philippines for OFW protection.
In a press briefing on Monday, May 21, Rep. Jesulito Manalo, committee chair, said the House through Resolution 1750, will investigate whether Section 4 of Republic Act 10022 or the Migrant Workers Act, was being properly implemented.
According to Manalo, the provision in particular provides that before the country can deploy its workers abroad, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Department of Foreign Affairs “must assure there are existing bilateral agreements between the Philippines and the host countries.”
He said a bilateral agreement is important as it assures the protection of Filipino workers in the land where they will be working.
He added that the existence of an international convention similar to the bilateral agreement assures all migrant workers that they will be protected under international law.
“I have called for a hearing so that the DFA can pinpoint country by country, whether there exists those agreements because if not, the President is correct that we cannot deploy without adequate protection on OFWs,” said Manalo.
“With more than 10 million Filipinos working abroad, it is vital that we maintain the strength of our diplomatic ties with our host countries…We must remain the gold standard for as long as our countrymen are abroad,” he said.