Top priorities of the Department of Migrant Workers

The Secretary of Department Migrant Workers, Abdullah “Dabs” D. Mama-o issued a press statement with regards to the top priorities of the department.

The statement reads as follows:

The enactment of the Republic Act 11641 or the Department of Migrant Workers Act is a realization on how the Philippine government shows importance to the Filipino migrant workers.

The Department is mandated to strengthen the protection of the welfare of our beloved Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in order to shield them from the prey of the illegal recruiters and abusive employers.

During the first month of my leadership as the pioneer Secretary of the Department, we were able to publish the Implementing Rules and Regulations amidst the constant defiance of some critics and personalities who showcased deliberate intent to put on hold the full implementation of the Department.

One of the goals of the incoming President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. that he shared during the Asia Expat Filipino Forum 2022 is the focused service to OFWs where the Filipino Migrant Workers should not have a hard time in processing their papers because the services should be lodged to one operational Department.

This is the exact reason why we strictly follow the law that enacted the Department in order to meet the deadlines that were expressly stated therein.

Moreover, we will also provide basic services to our OFWs and their families left behind. The Marcos Administration ensures that there will be a subsidized healthcare for OFWs, and OFW Hospital (that materialized during this present Administration) where all the medical requirements during the pre-deployment of the OFWs should be catered into.

In addition, the vision of the incoming Administration is to have an OFW Hospital in every region in order for the said hospitals to be accessible to our Filipino Migrant Workers.

In the same manner, the Marcos Administration hopes to provide a scholarship for all the OFW dependents since the expenditures in the education holds the biggest chunk of their salary.

Another facet of the Marcos regime is the retraining/reskilling expansion of the OFWs in order for them to have a suitable access to works that require their skills. Also, this retraining will enable them to be suited for whatever is needed based on the demands of certain labor markets. With this retraining, they will have ample opportunity to be employed based on their skills and training.

More importantly, the retirement fund of the OFWs is one of the goals of the Department. Aside from the reintegration programs that are currently being offered to them, the Department is also tasked to ensure that financial education is provided to them; thus, creating an assurance that the money that they worked hard for will not be wasted.

I would like to assure that under my leadership, all these visions of the Marcos Administration will be our top priorities to ensure that our Filipino Migrant Workers will be able to have the best services that they deserve. After all, the Department of Migrant Workers is created for them in recognition of their endless contribution to our economy and their families.

Source: https://dmw.gov.ph/resources/dmw/OSEC_EXT_PRESS_STATEMENT_05202022.pdf