Villanueva Lauds Passage on 2nd Reading of ‘Handbook for OFWs Bill’ to Protect Migrant Workers’ Rights

Senator Joel Villanueva on Tuesday lauded the Senate approval on second reading of a bill that seeks to mandate the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to publish and disseminate a handbook for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) containing the rights of migrant workers.

“I would like to express my support to our colleague, Senator Manny Pacquaio, for this important legislative measure, Senate Bill 192 or the ‘Handbook for OFWs Act’. I also would like to commend the People’s Champ for his passionate dedication and tireless work to the cause of our modern day heroes,” said Villanueva, chairperson of the Senate committee on labor, employment, and human resources development and co-author of the bill.

“I share his belief that our OFWs deserve not only our recognition but also our utmost efforts to give them better protection and to safeguard their rights,” Villanueva said.

Villanueva added that the handbook can serve as a “constant companion” of our OFWs.

“Napakaimportante po na mayroong ‘OFW Handbook’ lalo na sa ating mga household service workers. Sa pagpapatupad ng batas na ito, mainam na maglagay ng mga infographic at higit sa lahat dapat nakasulat sa wikang nauunawaan nila. Naimungkahi rin po natin noon na pwedeng makatulong ang Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino para makapaglabas ng mga Handbook hindi lang sa mga pangunahing wika sa Pilipinas kundi maging sa mga dayalektong ginagamit ng ating mga OFWs. Dapat din ay web-based o accessible on mobile devices,” Villanueva explained.

“In the face of increasing number of abuses against OFWs, perhaps, we can go back to the basics by equipping our workers abroad with the right information at the right time and in the right way,” Villanueva concluded.

senate.gov.ph