MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — Senator Sonny Angara believes that higher salaries, as well as the creation of more jobs in the country can stop Filipinos from working overseas.
“Working abroad should be a matter of choice and not out of desperation or necessity. Kung tatanungin natin ang ating mga kababayan, sigurado akong mas gugustuhin nilang manatili sa bansa at makasama ang kanilang pamilya basta may disenteng trabaho at sapat na kita dito,” said Angara, vice chairman of the Senate labor committee.
He said that wages here do not correspond with the current inflation rate.
Because of this, many Filipinos are forced to leave the country to give their family a decent life, even if this means being away from their loved ones for a long time.
In relation to this, Angara filed a resolution before the Senate to revise the labor policies of the government that will secure the jobs of Filipinos and to prevent them from leaving the country.
“We can no longer disregard the social costs of our labor export policy. We are exposing our kababayans to dangerous and deplorable working conditions abroad,” said Angara, who sponsored the law strengthening the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
“Kung kaya sa bagong OWWA law, ginawa nating core program ang reintegration dahil layon nating huwag na silang umalis ng bansa. Dapat masiguro na napapakinabangan talaga ng ating mga OFW iyong mga kasalukuyang programa at serbisyo para sa kanila,” he added.