VP Binay to fly to Middle East Friday for labor talks

Vice President Jejomar Binay will leave for the Middle East on Friday for labor negotiations and to check on the situation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in some countries being racked by violent protests. Binay, who is also presidential adviser on OFW concerns, will meet with high ranking officials in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) to hold bilateral discussions for a labor agreement that aims to benefit Filipino workers. In a statement on Wednesday, he likewise said that he will be closely monitoring the security situation of OFWs in Libya, Bahrain, and Yemen where violent protests are taking place at the moment. “We are working very closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and our embassies to ensure that all preparation and contingency measures are smoothly implemented," he said. As of June 2010, there are around 31,000 Filipinos in Bahrain, 26,000 in Libya, and 1,400 in Yemen. The vice president also said he had directed the DFA to meet with OFWs in welfare centers and job sites in Kuwait, Riyadh and UAE to find out about their concerns. “I asked them to update me on the status of the cases of OFWs and the assistance given by the embassies," Binay said. Binay will also be representing Aquino during the celebration of Kuwait’s national day. “The Philippine government is doing everything in its power to promote the welfare and ensure the safety of our OFWs," he said. — Kimberly Jane Tan/LBG/KBK, GMA News