By ARIS R. ILAGAN
July 17, 2009, 6:30pm
Six political personalities eyeing the presidential elections on the May 2010 polls appeared before a rain-drenched crowd at the historic Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila last Thursday night to drum up their platform of government involving key national issues, particularly on the protection of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) now working in different foreign lands.
From a makeshift stage, the six presidential aspirants – Estrada, Sen. Richard Gordon, Sen. Loren Legarda, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Senator Mar Roxas, and Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio – all recognized the need to ensure the protection and welfare of the OFWs now working abroad whose multi-billion remittances have saved the country from possible economic collapse.
The crowd, mostly Manileños, braved the rains to listen to the political platform of the presidential wannabes who answered questions on different key issues like improving the plight of OFWs, giving equal employment opportunity for the disabled, rising fuel prices, job generation, among others.
In a forum dubbed as : “Ang Mamamayang Pilipino… Alisto!” sponsored by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) led by Ambassador Henrietta de Villa and the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), the five presidential aspirants also cited the need to stop corruption in the government to encourage more foreign investments to generate jobs and avert the “brain drain” problem of the labor force.
Citing his observations from his recent trip from the Middle East when he visited from a labor center several OFWs who were apparently victims of abuse, Estrada said that the government must exert efforts to discourage Filipino workers from working as domestic helpers abroad.
“We have to improve the capability and efficiency of our labor attaches in embassies in countries where there are rampant cases of abuses on our domestic helpers,” Estrada said.
“Their common reason for not being able to help our OFWs is due to lack of funds. Our government should prioritize on giving help these abused domestic helpers instead of spending on high tech projects which do not benefit the common people,” the former president said.
On the other hand, Roxas, who is the Liberal party president, batted for a government policy that would require “pre-departure orientation” for OFWs leaving for work abroad that would make them knowledgeable in using computer internet and other wireless communication system.
By being familiar with information technology, the domestic helpers who were subjected to abuse by their employers can easily call or e-mail their embassies to seek help.
Panlilio, on the other hand, batted for the appointment of highly-qualified individuals to embassies situated in country’s where are there are many Filipino domestic helpers.
“We need people in embassies who have the will to protect the welfare of our domestic helpers. It is a matter of political will,” Panlilio said.
Both Escudero and Legarda called for the abolishment of recruitment fees for OFWs, particularly domestic helpers, to allow them to remit more of their earnings to their family.
The five presidential aspirants were given two minutes each to say their piece on prepared questions drawn from a transparent bowl by program host Anna De Villa Singson. A representative of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) took charge of the time limit for the five guest speakers.
Haaayyy.....eleksyon na naman...gamit na gamit na naman ang mga OFWs sa mga walang hanggang pangako na nananatiling pangako lamang. Ilang beses na ba nangyari ito? Paulit ulit lang....bagong bayani daw ang mga OFWs, dapat daw pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mga OFWs pero pag nahalal na at nakaupo na sa pwesto....wala na! Di na nila naaalala ang mga kababayan nating nagsasakripisyo sa ibang bansa para lang makapagpadala ng pera na ikinabubuhay ng pamilyang naiwan sa bansa. Maririnig lang natin uli ang kanilang mga pangako kapag may hindi agandang nangyari sa isang OFW na may media coverage. Makikita mo sila...nag uunahan pa sa pagsasalita at pagkondena sa mga karahasang nararanasan ng mga pinoy sa ibang bansa pero meron ba silang ginagawa, liban sa pagsasalita. haaaayyyyy.....
Ang article sa itaas ay galing mb. For more news, click here.
Showing posts with label recruitment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recruitment. Show all posts
Friday, 17 July 2009
Friday, 10 July 2009
Recruiters vs new ‘low-skilled’ OFW category
INQUIRER.net First Posted 16:07:00 07/07/2009
MANILA, Philippines—Licensed recruiters have expressed strong opposition against the new classification of “low- and semi-skilled” overseas Filipino workers, arguing that the series of series of orders of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration would deter employment of OFWs.
The POEA imposed the additional requirements for the deployment of female OFWs in 33 job categories (except to Canada) and of male OFWs in 11 job types (to Bahrain) with consulting them, said the recruiters under the umbrella organization of the Federated Associations of Manpower Exporters (Fame).
POEA’s new classification, which is aimed at strengthening protection mechanism for OFWs, is contained in Memorandum Circular 5 and 6, dated June 15. The new rules provide that the deployment of OFWs hired under this expanded category will not be processed until the individual employment contracts are verified by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and authenticated by the Philippine embassy in the host country.
The recruitment industry is already over-regulated, “strangulating the sector with more rules that are not conducive to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s thrust to create more jobs abroad, said federation president Eduardo Mahiya.
“What is the use of all these marketing missions which the President herself attends if after coming home, we, the direct providers of overseas employment opportunities are prevented from deploying more?” he asked.
The recruiters also bewailed the lack of a transition period, especially for job orders already in the pipeline. They said those renewing their job orders would also be affected.“The MCs were issued last June 15 and implemented right away (July 1). It was formulated without due consultation, and there is not even a transition period to allow the stakeholders to prepare,” he said.
The new rules would result in a maze of forms and certifications from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), labor attaches, valid visas/work permits, individual employment contracts, said recruitment consultant Emmanuel Geslani.
These would frustrate foreign recruitment offices, especially in the Middle East, 40 percent of whose deployment are under these categories, he said, foreseeing a massive drop in deployment starting the third quarter of 2009. [Veronica Uy]
Hmmm.....any comments?
More news? Click here.
MANILA, Philippines—Licensed recruiters have expressed strong opposition against the new classification of “low- and semi-skilled” overseas Filipino workers, arguing that the series of series of orders of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration would deter employment of OFWs.
The POEA imposed the additional requirements for the deployment of female OFWs in 33 job categories (except to Canada) and of male OFWs in 11 job types (to Bahrain) with consulting them, said the recruiters under the umbrella organization of the Federated Associations of Manpower Exporters (Fame).
POEA’s new classification, which is aimed at strengthening protection mechanism for OFWs, is contained in Memorandum Circular 5 and 6, dated June 15. The new rules provide that the deployment of OFWs hired under this expanded category will not be processed until the individual employment contracts are verified by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and authenticated by the Philippine embassy in the host country.
The recruitment industry is already over-regulated, “strangulating the sector with more rules that are not conducive to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s thrust to create more jobs abroad, said federation president Eduardo Mahiya.
“What is the use of all these marketing missions which the President herself attends if after coming home, we, the direct providers of overseas employment opportunities are prevented from deploying more?” he asked.
The recruiters also bewailed the lack of a transition period, especially for job orders already in the pipeline. They said those renewing their job orders would also be affected.“The MCs were issued last June 15 and implemented right away (July 1). It was formulated without due consultation, and there is not even a transition period to allow the stakeholders to prepare,” he said.
The new rules would result in a maze of forms and certifications from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), labor attaches, valid visas/work permits, individual employment contracts, said recruitment consultant Emmanuel Geslani.
These would frustrate foreign recruitment offices, especially in the Middle East, 40 percent of whose deployment are under these categories, he said, foreseeing a massive drop in deployment starting the third quarter of 2009. [Veronica Uy]
Hmmm.....any comments?
More news? Click here.
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