Govt urged to met head-on impact of global crisis on OFWs
11/04/2008 | 01:47 AM
MANILA, Philippines - An employment industry leader on Monday urged government and all stakeholders to meet head-on the impact of global economic crisis on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Eduardo Mahiya, president of the Federated Associations of Manpower Exporters, Inc. (FAME), said the economic meltdown is likely to hit overseas Filipinos in household care and manufacturing industries in Asia; health care and service industries in Europe, US and Canada as well as service and construction industries in the Middle East and other countries.
Mahiya said the global crisis could trigger layoffs, reduction of total number of employees, repatriation and cancellation of job orders.
This phenomenon could pose tremendous problems to workers and liabilities to job firms, he added.
He pointed out that OFWs must be assured that their employment is protected, and should they lose their jobs, they won’t worry because a system is in place to protect their income.
“That is why we are asking government to make mandatory a repatriation and liability insurance, which was actually agreed upon and signed into a manifesto last October." Mahiya said.
Mahiya belies claims made by a leader of another employment of organization saying that the industry supports an insurance package that includes health, accident, burial benefits.
“This (the expanded insurance package) is contrary to what all the organizations signed into a manifesto," he said, adding that the proposal could mean added cost and eventually defeat the purpose of giving OFWs and the industry essential protection in the form of repatriation and liability insurance.
Mahiya appealed for unity and immediate action by all stakeholders and government to address the crisis to ensure that whatever happens, the OFW is protected and the overseas employment industry. - Fernando dela Cruz, GMANews.TV
Eduardo Mahiya, president of the Federated Associations of Manpower Exporters, Inc. (FAME), said the economic meltdown is likely to hit overseas Filipinos in household care and manufacturing industries in Asia; health care and service industries in Europe, US and Canada as well as service and construction industries in the Middle East and other countries.
Mahiya said the global crisis could trigger layoffs, reduction of total number of employees, repatriation and cancellation of job orders.
This phenomenon could pose tremendous problems to workers and liabilities to job firms, he added.
He pointed out that OFWs must be assured that their employment is protected, and should they lose their jobs, they won’t worry because a system is in place to protect their income.
“That is why we are asking government to make mandatory a repatriation and liability insurance, which was actually agreed upon and signed into a manifesto last October." Mahiya said.
Mahiya belies claims made by a leader of another employment of organization saying that the industry supports an insurance package that includes health, accident, burial benefits.
“This (the expanded insurance package) is contrary to what all the organizations signed into a manifesto," he said, adding that the proposal could mean added cost and eventually defeat the purpose of giving OFWs and the industry essential protection in the form of repatriation and liability insurance.
Mahiya appealed for unity and immediate action by all stakeholders and government to address the crisis to ensure that whatever happens, the OFW is protected and the overseas employment industry. - Fernando dela Cruz, GMANews.TV
