Implementation Of Expanded OFW Protection To Start This Month

The new law that would give more benefit and protection for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) is set to be implemented this month.  According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), this development would be to the advantage of about eight million OFWs all over the world. 

Rosalinda Baldoz, the new Labor Secretary said in an article that appeared in the DOLE website, “With the publication of the implementing rules and regulations, I now direct the family of agencies under the DOLE that have OFW-related mandates to craft their own internal rules and regulations for the smooth operationalization and implementation of the provisions of the law."

Aside from the DOLE, other government agencies that need to work on their internal rules about OFWs are the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and other agencies with OFW-related mandates.

The implementing rules and regulations of this new law have already been published in major newspapers and would take effect on August 13. According to Baldoz the implementation of expanded OFW protection law or Republic Act 10022 is a challenge that puts the DOLE at an even bigger forefront of OFW social protection.

The following are some of the highlights of the new law:

• Stronger bilateral and multilateral relations with the receiving countries for OFW protection;
• Provision of free skills training and livelihood programs for OFWs;
• “Positive and concrete measures" of host countries to protect the rights of migrant workers;
• Prohibition of acts that may constitute illegal recruitment by both licensed and unlicensed agencies;
• Implementation of anti-illegal recruitment programs;
• Placement of the responsibility for OFW repatriation upon the principal or employer and licensed recruitment agency;
• Establishment of the National Reintegration Center for OFWs;
• Protection from abusive medical clinics;
• Legal assistance fund for filing of cases against erring or abusive employers;
• Compulsory provision of insurance to cover agency-hired workers for accidental death, natural death, permanent total disablement, repatriation costs, subsistence allowance benefit, money claims, compassionate visit, medical evaluation, and medical repatriation.