PHL gov't supports Pinoy teachers caught in legal battle in US

Philippine officials in the United States vowed to support Filipino teachers in Maryland state in the midst of immigration issues that may cost them their jobs. Consul General Domingo Nolasco and Labor Attache Luzviminda Padilla led embassy personnel in meeting with Filipino teachers in Prince George’s County Friday. “As part of the Philippine government’s mandate to protect Filipinos abroad and promote their welfare, the [Philippine Embassy in Washington] will assist the affected teachers in making representations with appropriate US government agencies," the embassy noted. The embassy said it is also organizing a forum to bring together all relevant parties and explain all possible options, “so the teachers can make an informed judgment on the proper course of action they have to take." The embassy pointed out that the Filipino teachers’ jobs may be adversely affected due to an agreement between the Wage Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor and the Prince George’s County Public School. Such an agreement “prevents the school district from hiring new teachers and renewing visas of current foreign workers due to its willful violation of wage laws on the hiring of overseas workers," the embassy said. — JE, GMA News